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Desmond Tutu

CAPE TOWN. — Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu’s home in Cape Town was burgled as he was away for former President Nelson Mandela’s memorial service in Johannesburg, police said yesterday. The burglary took place on Tuesday, the same day when Mandela’s memorial service was held in Johannesburg, police spokesman Tembinkosi Kinana said.

Tutu spoke at the memorial service, urging fellow South Africans to follow the example of Mandela and to build a country free of injustice and crime. This was the second time this year that Tutu’s home was burgled. It remains unknown what had been taken in the latest incident.

“At this stage we cannot give further details, as the investigation into the matter is still ongoing. No arrests have been made as yet,” Kinana said. In the previous burglary in August, the house had been burgled and small items had been taken while Tutu and his wife Leah, slept, according to the Cape Times.

South Africa has one of the highest crime rates in the world. Among various crimes, residential burglary increased by 6,8 percent to a total 262 113 incidents in 2012/13, according to the latest statistics released by Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa in September. — Xinhua.