Nomalizo Leah Tutu

Nomalizo Leah Tutu was born Nomalizo Leah Shenxane in 1933 in Krugersdorp.[2] She married Desmond Tutu on July 2, 1955. They had four children: Trevor Thamsanqa, Theresa Thandeka, Naomi Nontombi and Mpho Andrea, all of whom attended the Waterford Kamhlaba School in Swaziland.[3] They have 9 grandchildren: Palesa Tutu and Lizo Tutu via Trevor, Xabiso Gxashe via Thandeka, Tebogo Joy Ngoma, Nompumelelo Ngomane, and Mpilo Ngomane via Naomi, and Nyaniso Burris and Onalena Burris via Mpho.[4] They renewed their marriage vows in 2015 in Orlando, Soweto.[5] She underwent hip surgery in 2016.[6]

Leah is a teacher and a nurse. During the period between 1970 and 1972, she worked as an assistant to the registrar at the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland.[2] She co-founded the South African Domestic Workers Association.[1] She was the director of the Domestic Workers and Employers Project of the South African Institute of Race Relations from 1976 to 1984.[2][4] She co-founded the Desmond Tutu Peace Center in 1988. She lectures to many churches and women's groups.[4]

In 2000, the National Louis University awarded her an honorary doctorate, along with her husband.[2][4] In 2009, she and her husband were awarded the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Peacemaker Award by the We Are Family Foundation.[7]