Tutu ‘not home’ during burglary

JOHANNESBURG – The Soweto home of South Africa’s Nobel Peace Prize winning archbishop Desmond Tutu was burgled at the weekend, Johannesburg police spokesperson Superintendent Thembi Nkwashu said yesterday.

Nkwashu told AFP that five suspects were arrested following the burglary of Tutu’s house in Orlando West in the city early Sunday morning. “Five suspects have been arrested.Several goods were stolen from the house.We have so far recovered two television sets, one DVD set, the Nobel peace prize won by Tutu, some jewelleries and the vehicle used for the robbery,” she said.The 75-year-old Anglican church archbishop was not in the house when the burglary took place, she said.”Tutu was not in the house.He is out of the country,” said the police officer.The arrested suspects would be charged in court as soon as the investigation was completed, she stated.An official in the archbishop’s office, Livinia Brown, told AFP that the archbishop has been informed of the incident.”I have been contacted over the burglary and I have informed the archbishop about it.He is recovering well.But he will be away for several weeks,” she said, without giving details.Affectionately known as ‘The Arch’, Tutu was first diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1996.He received successful radiation treatment in New York.But tests taken in 2000 showed that the cancer had returned.Tutu was in Britain last month to deliver a lecture and attend a ceremony.He has since not returned to South Africa.Nampa-AP”Five suspects have been arrested.Several goods were stolen from the house.We have so far recovered two television sets, one DVD set, the Nobel peace prize won by Tutu, some jewelleries and the vehicle used for the robbery,” she said.The 75-year-old Anglican church archbishop was not in the house when the burglary took place, she said.”Tutu was not in the house.He is out of the country,” said the police officer.The arrested suspects would be charged in court as soon as the investigation was completed, she stated.An official in the archbishop’s office, Livinia Brown, told AFP that the archbishop has been informed of the incident.”I have been contacted over the burglary and I have informed the archbishop about it.He is recovering well.But he will be away for several weeks,” she said, without giving details.Affectionately known as ‘The Arch’, Tutu was first diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1996.He received successful radiation treatment in New York.But tests taken in 2000 showed that the cancer had returned.Tutu was in Britain last month to deliver a lecture and attend a ceremony.He has since not returned to South Africa.Nampa-AP