The KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg has delivered a landmark ruling, declaring the death of ANC stalwart Chief Albert Luthuli a murder. This judgment overturns the official 1967 finding that his death was a tragic accident....Click to Read More >>➤
Judge Nompumelelo Radebe handed down the verdict, which follows the National Prosecuting Authority’s decision to reopen the inquest in April. The court heard closing arguments just two weeks prior to this historic ruling.
Chief Albert Luthuli died on July 21, 1967, at 68 years old. The original inquest, conducted by the Stanger Magistrate’s Court, concluded he was struck by a freight train while crossing the Umvoti River railway bridge. That ruling stated no South African Railways personnel or any other individuals bore criminal responsibility.
A Flawed Original Investigation
Judge Radebe noted the Luthuli family had consistently rejected Magistrate C.I. Boswell’s 1967 findings. They argued the initial investigation failed to properly examine the true circumstances. “To them, Chief Luthuli’s death was a well-orchestrated plan to eliminate him,” the judge stated.
Crucial evidence presented in the new inquiry revealed Magistrate Boswell drafted a letter on August 4, 1967, that appeared to predetermine the inquest’s outcome before hearing testimony. This discovery led Judge Radebe to overturn the original ruling entirely.
The court found that Chief Albert Luthuli’s death resulted from “a fractured skull, cerebral haemorrhage and contusion of the brain associated with an assault.” The judgment states his death was “attributable to cumulative acts and omissions” by apartheid-era security branch members working with South African Railways employees.
Identifying Responsibility and New Investigations
Judge Radebe identified several individuals implicated in the murder of Chief Albert Luthuli. These include train driver Stephanus Albertus Lategan, train fireman Daniel Greyling, train conductor Pieter van Wyk, and detective sergeant Charles Barend Petrus Lewis. Most of these individuals’ current whereabouts remain unknown.
The judge found they committed crimes including defeating the ends of justice, perjury, and being accessories after the fact to murder. She also recommended the Director of Public Prosecutions investigate the kidnapping and disappearance of Mbhemu Myandu, a young boy who allegedly witnessed Luthuli’s death.
Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi welcomed the judgment, praising the NPA team’s work. She confirmed the court had overturned the original accidental death ruling, recognizing Luthuli died from assault-related injuries.
The Legacy of Chief Albert Luthuli
Born in 1898, Luthuli became a towering figure in South Africa’s liberation struggle. He was elected chief of the Zulu community in Groutville, KZN, in 1937. He joined the ANC in 1944, eventually rising to become the organization’s president.
His unwavering commitment to nonviolent resistance earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1960, making him the first African recipient. This new ruling finally provides legal recognition that Chief Albert Luthuli was murdered, bringing long-awaited clarity to one of South Africa’s most significant historical mysteries. ...Click to Read More >>➤
