Desmond Tutu recovers from surgery while honored at University of Cape Town graduation
December 12, 2011
South Africa's Archbishop Desmond Tutu recently underwent surgery a few months after celebrating his 80th birthday. The AFP reports that Tutu was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1997, and was treated successfully in the U.S.
"He is recovering in hospital after undergoing an elective surgery on Friday," Rodger Friendman, Tutu's spokesman, told the news publication. "It was a minor surgery. He is recovering very well, nothing major."
Tutu may have spent December 12 in a hospital bed, but that didn't stop the University of Cape Town from honoring him with the Graca Machel Chancellor's Award for Continental Leadership at the graduation ceremony, according to PoliticsWeb. The award has only been given to one other person, former President Thabo Mbeki.
Tutu has long supported the university's efforts to encourage social responsibility among students and Cape town residents alike.
People can make calls to South Africa to find out the latest news concerning the Archbishop or just to congratulate loved ones who graduated from the University of Cape Town on Monday.