Summary
A new investigation has started to examine the 1967 death of Chief Albert Luthuli, a leader of the African National Congress. Luthuli was reportedly hit by a train, but recent testimonies suggest the incident might not have occurred as originally described, raising questions about the true circumstances of his death.
Key Facts
- Chief Albert Luthuli was 69 years old when he died near Durban, South Africa, in 1967.
- Luthuli was the leader of the African National Congress (ANC) and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
- He was reportedly hit by a train on July 21, 1967, while crossing the Umvoti River Bridge.
- Train driver Stephanus Lategan testified that he saw Luthuli walking on the bridge and sounded the whistle, but Luthuli did not move aside.
- Luthuli's family said he was usually very careful when crossing the bridge.
- A new inquest in 2023 has been opened to investigate suspicious deaths from the apartheid era.
- Expert witnesses at the new inquest have raised doubts about Lategan's version of events.
- Some experts suggested the possibility that Luthuli was assaulted and his body placed on the track to make it look like a train accident.
