Sema Fonkem 18/04/2025

Albert John Luthuli was a South African anti-apartheid activist, traditional leader, and politician who served as the President-General of the African National Congress from 1952 to 1967.

A 1967 inquest ruled that Chief Albert Luthuli was struck by a train while walking on the railway and died after a fracture on his skull. The ANC, relatives, friends and activists who have long questioned the circumstances that let to Luthuli’s death have welcomed the reopening of the inquest and remain hopeful that justice will be served.

Chief Albert Luthuli was the first South African to be given the Nobel Peace Prize in 1960 for the role he played in spearheading the fight against apartheid. He was also president of the then banned African National Congress (ANC) political party. This is the same party Nelson Mandela was a member of when South Africa had its first all-race democratic elections on the 27th of April 1994. 

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) will be presenting new evidence which indicates that the first inquest was whitewashed to cover up wrong doings by the apartheid government. This move is to have the court’s decision based on previous findings to be overturned and one strong point the NPA will rely on is that Chief Luthuli was not allowed to leave the Groutville area where he resided or take part in any public political activities. 

If the NPA is successful in handling this complex case, not only will this inquest let the public know who is responsible for Luthuli’s death, but will expose more heinous crimes committed by the apartheid regime.