Nomalizo Leah Tutu (née Shenxane; born 14 October 1933) is a South African activist and the widow of Desmond Tutu.[1][2]
Nomalizo Leah Tutu | |
|---|---|
 Tutu in 1997 | |
| Born | Nomalizo Leah Shenxane 14 October 1933 |
| Occupation | Activist |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4; including Mpho Tutu van Furth |
| Signature | |
 | |
Life
editTutu 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
edit
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
editIn 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
edit- ^ a b Jansen, Jonathan (25 October 2013). "The Big Read: Leah Tutu true grit behind the glory". Times Live. Sunday Times. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
- ^ a b c d e Turok, Karina (2009). Life and Soul: Portraits of Women who Move South Africa. Double Storey Publishers.
- ^ "Our Patron – Archbishop Desmond Tutu". Cape Town Child Welfare. Archived from the original on 18 May 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2008.
- ^ a b c d "We Are Family Foundation - Honorees". We Are Family Foundation. We Are Family Foundation. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
- ^ Harley, Nicola (4 July 2015). "Desmond Tutu renews wedding vows". The Telegraph. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
- ^ Etheridge, Jenna (16 November 2016). "Leah Tutu recovering well after surgery". News24. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
- ^ "Archbishop Desmond Tutu & Leah Tutu". We Are Family Foundation. Retrieved 8 September 2017.