Archbishop Tutu makes a new plea for South Africans not to give in to xenophobia – 02 July 2010

Archbishop Desmond Tutu made an impassioned plea for tolerance at a roof wetting ceremony in Masiphumelele this week. Wearing his Bafana Bafana outfit, with his makarapa, the Archbishop said: “We have been welcoming the world, but I’m afraid that we’ve been hearing that after the World Cup, all foreigners who are black are going to get it in the neck…”He went on to remind South Africans that during apartheid, countries in Africa – many of them very poor – gave our exiles refuge.  
“Let us not be killed by being greedy and ungenerous. Please Please Please,” he said.

The celebration honoured the Kethuphila (“Choose Life”) Youth Centre  as well as the launch of adolescent health services at a temporary clinic on the site while the Kethuphila building is under construction.

The facility will be unusual in that whilst sexual and reproductive health services will be central, recreational, educational and aspirational services will also be offered in large measure. Youth will hopefully feel that many of their needs, currently unmet, will be top priority at the Kethuphila Youth Centre. 

Deputy director of the Desmond Tutu HIV Centre at the Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town and chief operating officer of the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, Linda-Gail Bekker, says: “Our ultimate goal is to find a workable, replicable model that will help South African youth reach their full potential- this is the future for South Africa”.  

The Foundation established an HIV health service at the Nonzamo Community Health Clinic, Masiphumelele in 2000.  In 2008 the Desmond and Leah Tutu Treatment Centre was built as an annexe to the health clinic to provide a permanent home for the research studies undertaken by the Foundation.  The township is hard hit by HIV, young people are particularly vulnerable as in many parts of South Africa.