Table Mountain and City Hall to Light Up in Purple in Memory of the Arch
Table Mountain and City Hall to Light Up in Purple in Memory of the Arch. Photo: YouTube screenshot from a previous occasion.

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Table Mountain and City Hall to Light Up in Purple for the Arch

This week, the City of Cape Town will light up Table Mountain and City Hall every evening at 20h00 in purple – the colour that is so synonymous with ‘The Arch’, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who passed away on Sunday morning, 26 December. Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said that as everyone mourns the passing of the Arch, […]

By SAPeople Contributor
28-12-21 16:08
in Fab South African Stuff
Table Mountain and City Hall to Light Up in Purple in Memory of the Arch
Table Mountain and City Hall to Light Up in Purple in Memory of the Arch. Photo: YouTube screenshot from a previous occasion.

This week, the City of Cape Town will light up Table Mountain and City Hall every evening at 20h00 in purple – the colour that is so synonymous with ‘The Arch’, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who passed away on Sunday morning, 26 December.

City to light up Table Mountain and City Hall in purple in memory of the Arch
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis (centre) signs one of the City’s condolence books. From left to right is acting chairperson of the Desmond Tutu IP Trust and Co-ordinator of the Office of the Archbishop, Mamphela Ramphele, Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba, Chairperson of the Desmond and Leah Foundation Niclas Kjellström-Matseke and Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Patricia de Lille.

Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said that as everyone mourns the passing of the Arch, Cape Town also wanted to celebrate the man who “dedicated his life to making our country a more just, humane and peaceful place for all”.

The mayor said: “As people here and around the world see Cape Town’s famous mountain lit up in purple, we hope it helps to remember and honour Cape Town’s greatest resident and all that he stood for.

“I hope also that the image will be a reminder to the world of the great challenges South Africa has overcome, of the great people who helped us to overcome those challenges, and that by following in the Arch’s example, every one of us can also make a positive difference in the world.”

Although Table Mountain was meant to be lit up from Sunday, residents said the mountain was covered in mist on Sunday evening. If you’re in Cape Town, please send photos to admin@sapeople.com for us to share with South Africans around the world. Thank you! 

Condolence books

City to light up Table Mountain and City Hall in purple in memory of the Arch

The City has made condolence books available for residents to sign outside St George’s Cathedral on the corner of Wale and Adderley Street, and at the Civic Centre. Condolence books at all City Subcouncil offices will also be made available in the week, and the mayor encourages all Cape Town residents to sign the books as tribute to the Arch.  An online condolence book can also be found here.

Road closures will be in place on Wale and Adderley street around the cathedral, with further road closures in the immediate vicinity to confirmed.

Inter-Faith Tribute for Archbishop Tutu

Cape Town is hosting an inter-faith tribute for Archbishop Tutu on Wednesday 29 December at 18h00 at the City Hall.

WATCH Special Channel paying tribute

You can also watch a Carte Blanche four-part Tutu tribute on a special pop-up channel.

Tags: Archbishop Desmond Tutu table mountain