South Africa: Desmond Tutu in the hospital

Anti-Apartheid crusader and peace activist Desmond Tutu checked into a Cape Town hospital today for treatment of an ongoing infection.

"Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu has checked into a Cape Town hospital for the treatment of a persistent infection and to undergo tests to discover the underlying cause," his foundation said in a statement.

The 81-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner spent the morning in his office before going to the hospital, where the non-surgical treatment is expected to take five days.

More from GlobalPost: Retirement, Tutu style

Tutu was treated for prostate cancer in 1997.

Tutu is scheduled to travel to London in May to receive the $1.7 million Templeton Prize for his “lifelong work in advancing spiritual principles," Asianet reported.
 

Will you support The World?

The story you just read is not locked behind a paywall because listeners and readers like you generously support our nonprofit newsroom. Now more than ever, we need your help to support our global reporting work and power the future of The World. Can we count on you?