The body of late South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu will be aquamated.
The process is an alternative to cremation using water and chemicals, instead of fire. It’s considered to be more environmentally friendly.
He will be interred behind the pulpit at St Georgeās Cathedral, Cape Town, where he served as an Anglican Archbishop for 35 years.
The āenvironmentally friendlyā process involves heating the body in a mixture of potassium hydroxide and water for up to 90 minutes leaving only the bones. These are then rinsed in the solution at 120C (248F), dried, and pulverized into ashes.
The Dean of St Georgeās Cathedral, the Very Reverend Michael Weeder, confirmed that it was what Archbishop Tutu āaspired to as an eco-warriorā.
The Nobel Peace Prize laureate who helped end apartheid in South Africa died on Sunday, December 26. He was 90. Before his death, the anti-apartheid campaigner had insisted there should be āno ostentatiousness or lavish spendingā on the ceremony.
Tutu, who was South Africa’s first black archbishop, wanted āthe cheapest available coffinā with only āa bouquet of carnations from his familyā, according to the Archbishop Tutu IP Trust and the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation.
Desmond Tutu’s body had been lying-in-state in the cathedral where he preached against racial injustice. His burial is expected to take place this weekend.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to deliver the main eulogy at the service at St George’s Chapel in Cape Town.
Hundreds of mourners stood in long queues on Thursday and Friday, some singing, others carrying flowers and writing on tribute books in memory of the Nobel Peace Prize winner.
