Times Live reports that after chatting for a few minutes laughter filled the ward when the last National Party president‚ alluding to a difficult phase of his relationship with Tutu during the Truth and Reconciliation Commission‚ said he did not want to stay long and tire the Archbishop.
“I tired you enough in the past… You tired me too!” De Klerk quipped.
Joining the laughter were Tutu’s wife‚ Leah‚ and daughter‚ the Reverend Canon Mpho Tutu.
Tutu has been battling with medication for prostate cancer for the last few weeks and has been in and out of hospital to receive intensive antibiotic treatment for a stubborn infection and related complications.
He was exercising daily‚ and spending more and more time sitting in a chair‚ rather than lying in bed‚ he told De Klerk.
De Klerk said he looked forward to watching the soon-to-be 84-year-old Archbishop on the dance floor when he celebrated his own 80th birthday at a party early next year.
In July, Tutu and his wife Leah, celebrated 60 years of marriage at a vow renewal ceremony in Cape Town. Desmond and Leah’s romance blossomed during the pair’s college days. The couple was married on the 2nd of July, 1955 and settled in Soweto.
They have four adult children and seven grandchildren.
