By Kaya 959 Reporter
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu is still alive.
The Anglican Bishop Diocese of Johannesburg on Wednesday slammed social media claims that the 90-year-old cleric had passed away. Tutu celebrated his birthday on October 7.
A social media user, purporting to belong to the Diocese’s Rt Rev Dr Steve Moreo, tweeted that Tutu had passed on.
“ATTENTION. The Anglican Diocese of Johannesburg receives now the sad news of the death of our dearest Archbishop Desmond Tutu,” read the now-deleted tweet.
In a statement from the Diocese, the real Moreo said the rumours are false and malicious.
“The Diocese of Johannesburg decries the falsehood being spread on social media and asks people to respond with extreme caution to fake media reports such as this,” Moreo said.
ALSO READ: Dr Malinga rubbishes death rumours: “I’m Alive”
The Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation also denounced the rumour.
“The Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation outrightly condemns the false, irresponsible, mischievous news that has been circulated today about our Founder Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu,” read a short statement on their Facebook page.
“This was after the Archbishop’s so-called passing was falsely and disrespectfully reported via a fake Twitter account purporting to be that of Bishop Steven Moreo, Anglican Bishop of Johannesburg,” the foundation adds.
The foundation has reported the Twitter account.
Italian journalist reportedly behind Desmond Tutu’s death hoax
Italian journalist Tommaso Debenedetti allegedly created the fake account.
Debenedetti has written several fake news in the past. He is a schoolteacher in Rome, according to Wikipedia.
He has created bogus social media accounts for famous people since 2011. In 2012, he posted a hoax tweet announcing the death of Syrian President Assad. The hoax led to a global spike in the oil price.
Debenedetti has fooled several editors and publications into publishing his fake stories.



