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Chief Albert Luthuli.
KwaZulu-Natal Chief Pathologist, Dr Sibusiso Ntsele, is expected to continue with his testimony in the reopened inquest into the death of former African National Congress (ANC) President Chief Albert Luthuli in Pietermaritzburg High Court.
Ntsele provided the court with a detailed analysis based on the injuries sustained by Chief Luthuli
Dr Ntsele is amongst the experts who assisted the investigation team in the reopened inquest to analyse Luthuli’s original medical and post-mortem report.
Luthuli died in 1967 after being reportedly hit by a goods train in Groutville.
This inquest seeks to overturn the findings of the original one in 1967.
Testifying in court yesterday, Ntsele says injuries sustained by Luthuli can be defined as defence injuries, and not those of a person struck by a train.
“It would not be comprehensible to accept that Mr Luthuli was hit by a train on the chest since the x-ray revealed a single rib fracture. One has considered the possibility that Mr Luthuli could’ve been hit by the train. The difficulty to reconcile with such context is presented by the nature and distribution of injuries,” he adds.
“Generally, a person hit by a train would have multiple fractures in different body regions. In addition, a person hit by the train would sustain abrasions, bruises and or lacerations; these were not recorded on both autopsy findings,” adds Ntsele.
Video: GRAPHIC CONTENT: Inquest into the death of Chief Albert Luthuli – 14 May 2025
