South Africa Reopens Inquests into Death of Nobel Laureate and Anti-Apartheid Leader Albert Luthuli

The official report stated that he was hit by a train in Groutville, KwaZulu-Natal, and an inquest held shortly after, by the Magistrates’ Court in Lower Tugela, did not indict South Africa Railways or anyone else of any culpable acts. In a media statement released by the Department of Justice (DOJ), the 1967 inquest did not consider certain mathematical and scientific principles.

“This mathematical and scientific report reveals that it is highly unlikely that Chief Luthuli was struck by a train and died because of that,” the statement read. With this new information, along with investigation done by the Truth and Reconciliation Unit of the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation, the inquest into Chief Luthuli’s death will be reopened by the judge president of the High Court in KwaZulu-Natal.

The KZN High Court will also reopen the inquest into the death of Mxenge, a civil rights lawyer and ANC member. In November 1981, Mxenge was found dead in Umlazi, with his body bearing over 40 laceration marks. After a 1983 inquest failed to identify his killers, members of the covert police death squad, Vlakplaas, admitted to abducting and gruesomely killing Mxenge.

Appearing in front of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in November 1996, former Vlakplass commander Dirk Coetzee testified about his involvement in the killing, and was granted amnesty for his crimes, despite protests by Mxenge’s family. The reopened inquest, according to the DOJ’s media statement, will take into account, “new evidence that certain critical information was not presented to the TRC and the initial inquest — although the perpetrators were clearly identified.”

In June 1985, Mantyi was killed by members of the South African Police, for allegedly throwing stones at police. An inquest held in De Aar shortly after the killing ruled that no one was responsible for his death. Now, an eyewitness who has not yet testified has been identified, forming the basis for the reopened inquest by the judge president of the High Court in Northern Cape.

“With these inquests, we open very real wounds which are more difficult to open 30 years into our democracy,” Lamola said in the statement. “But nonetheless, the interest of justice can be bound by time. The truth must prevail.”

Mixed reactions have trailed the DOJ’s media statement, shared by spokesperson Chrispin Phiri on X. While user Xola Nqolahopes that justice will be done, another user, Lerato Tsebe, is apprehensive about the timing of the announcement, perhaps as a move by ANC to curry some favor as its dominance flails two weeks to the general elections.

“This is just playing politics and buying time to get votes,” X user Victor Libelewrote in his reply, citing the amnesty granted to Mxenge’s killers. Meanwhile, user Totwe Sekgethohopes, “the affected families will finally find closure.”