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Chief Albert Luthuli.
The re-opened inquest into the death of former African National Congress (ANC) president Chief Albert Luthuli is set to resume in the High Court in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, this morning.
The Luthuli family is seeking to overturn the findings of the original inquest, which concluded that his death was accidental. Chief Luthuli died in 1967 after allegedly being struck by a train in Groutville.
The ANC and the Luthuli family have long disputed these findings, alleging that the apartheid government killed him to silence his activism.
The State is expected to call more witnesses this week, including the sister of a boy who allegedly saw Chief Luthuli being assaulted next to a stationary train in Groutville.
Last week, Isaiah Mdletshe, 70, testified that his uncle, Barnabas Mnyandu, had told him that his younger brother witnessed the assault. Mdletshe also told the court that his family searched for his uncle at police stations after he was taken away to provide a statement. The uncle has never been found.
Albertina Luthuli,the daughter of Chief Luthuli also testified, telling the court how the family was terrorized by members of the police’s security branch during the apartheid years.
The inquest is expected to continue until mid-June.
Inquest into the death of Chief Albert Luthuli | 28 May 2025
