The body of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu will lie in state for an extra day at St George’s Cathedral and will now include tomorrow and Friday.

This will allow more members of the public to pay their last respects.

In a joint statement, The Archbishop Desmond Tutu IP Trust and the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation said the Arch asked that his coffin be the “cheapest available”, and that he wanted no ostentatiousness or lavish spending.

The presidency announced that Tutu’s funeral, set to be held on Saturday, would be a “special category 1” official service.

Minister in the presidency Mondli Gungubele said based on the late archbishop’s wishes, the SANDF ceremonial content will be limited to the handing over of the national flag to Mam’ Leah Tutu.