Prayers on the death of Vuyo Mbuli

This statement was issued on 20 May 2013.

The sudden death of Vuyo Mbuli has come as a shock to us all, and deprives South Africa of a gifted journalist and broadcaster. It also deprives his wife and family of a wonderful individual - generous-spirited, warm-hearted, intelligent and full of joy. Our hearts go out to Savita and all who loved him, and I assure them of my own personal prayers and those of so many Anglicans across our country.

I thank God for Vuyo, and for his dedication to building up our nation and gently and good-humouredly challenging us to become the best we can be. His death will leave a hole in so many lives, personally and professionally. I knew him in both capacities: as the son-in-law of an Anglican priest, and as someone who had interviewed me, and who also gave his time to chair a fund-raising dinner in East London to raise awareness about AIDS, at which I spoke. I hope our country will find some way of honouring this faithful son and servant.

When Jesus said 'Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted', he was not belittling the enormity of death. He himself
wept at the grave of his friend Lazarus. Understanding the pain that death brings us, he invites us to bring our grieving to him, so that we might know the comfort and strength that only he, the one who has conquered death, can bring us. So as I grieve for this life cut short, I also thank God that death, though terrible, does not have the final word, for Vuyo or for any of us. May he rest in peace.

Issued by the Office of the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town
Inquiries: Ms Wendy Kelderman 021 763 1320 (office hours)