Cape Town: Burglars broke into the Cape Town home of South African peace icon Desmond Tutu when he was away speaking at Nelson Mandela's memorial, an aide said Wednesday.

"I can confirm that there was a burglary last night," said Tutu aide Roger Friedman.

Desmond Tutu and Winnie Madikizela Mandela during Nelson Mandela's memorial service. Credit:AFP

"We are not able to tell exactly what was stolen, the archbishop and his wife were not at home. The house was not pillaged."

Tutu had used the memorial to call on South Africans to follow Mandela's example.