S.Africans intrigued by Desmond Tutu's choice of aquamation

A candle is placed at the spot where the ashes of the late Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu are laid to rest, at the St George's cathedral in Cape Town, South Africa, January 13, 2022. Picture taken January 13, 2022. REUTERS/Shafiek Tassiem

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - Anti-apartheid hero Desmond Tutu's choice of aquamation over cremation or traditional burial came as a surprise to some South Africans, while others were impressed by this environmentally conscious move.

By opting for aquamation Tutu, who died on Dec. 26 aged 90, joined a growing "green burial" movement centred around the use of biodegradable materials and natural decomposition.