He served as General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches (1978–85), becoming a leading voice in the struggle against apartheid, calling for economic sanctions against South Africa and emphasizing non‐violent action. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984, and in the following year he became Johannesburg’s first Black Anglican bishop. He was archbishop of Cape Town (1986–96) and chaired South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (1995–99).