Archbishop Emeritus, Desmond Tutu, will not attend the inauguration ceremony of Jacob Zuma as a new president, his office said on Friday.

A spokesperson in Tutu's office, Linda Fuggle, said Tutu was out of the country, since 26 April, and would only return at the end of June.

"He will not attend the inauguration," she said.

She said Tutu's diary was confirmed a year in advance.

Presidential spokesperson Thabo Masebe said Tutu had been invited to the inauguration, on Saturday, at the Union Building.

Tutu had said that he did not look forward to having Zuma as the country's president.