Nomalizo Leah Tutu
Tutu in 1997
Born
Nomalizo Leah Shenxane

(1933-10-14) 14 October 1933
Krugersdorp, Union of South Africa
OccupationActivist
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1955; died 2021)​
Children4; including Mpho Tutu van Furth
Signature

Nomalizo Leah Tutu (née Shenxane; born 14 October 1933) is a South African activist and the widow of Desmond Tutu.[1][2]

Life

Tutu was born Nomalizo Leah Shenxane on 14 October 1933 in Krugersdorp, South Africa.[2] She married Desmond Tutu on 2 July 1955. They had four children: Trevor Thamsanqa, Theresa Thandeka, Naomi Nontombi and Mpho Andrea, all of whom attended the Waterford Kamhlaba School in Swaziland.[3] They have nine grandchildren: Palesa Tutu and Lizo Tutu via Trevor, Xabiso Gxashe via Thandeka, Tebogo Joy Ngoma, Nompumelelo Ngomane, and Mpilo Ngomane via Naomi, and Nyaniso Burris and Onalena Burris via Mpho.[4] They renewed their marriage vows in 2015 in Orlando, Soweto.[5] She underwent hip surgery in 2016.[6]

Career and activism

She lived for over 50 years at Tutu House which they extended in 1990

Leah Tutu was a teacher and a nurse. During the period between 1970 and 1972, she worked as an assistant to the registrar at the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland.[2] She co-founded the South African Domestic Workers Association.[1] She was the director of the Domestic Workers and Employers Project of the South African Institute of Race Relations from 1976 to 1984.[2][4] She co-founded the Desmond Tutu Peace Center in 1988. She lectures to many churches and women's groups.[4]

Honours

In 2000, the National Louis University awarded her an honorary doctorate, along with her husband.[2][4] In 2009, she and her husband were awarded the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Peacemaker Award by the We Are Family Foundation.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 Jansen, Jonathan (25 October 2013). "The Big Read: Leah Tutu true grit behind the glory". Times Live. Sunday Times. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Turok, Karina (2009). Life and Soul: Portraits of Women who Move South Africa. Double Storey Publishers.
  3. ↑ "Our Patron – Archbishop Desmond Tutu". Cape Town Child Welfare. Archived from the original on 18 May 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2008.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "We Are Family Foundation - Honorees". We Are Family Foundation. We Are Family Foundation. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  5. ↑ Harley, Nicola (4 July 2015). "Desmond Tutu renews wedding vows". The Telegraph. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  6. ↑ Etheridge, Jenna (16 November 2016). "Leah Tutu recovering well after surgery". News24. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  7. ↑ "Archbishop Desmond Tutu & Leah Tutu". We Are Family Foundation. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
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