Fresh inquest into Luthuli’s death on the cards

The reopening of an inquest into the death of former ANC president Chief Albert Luthuli is on the cards, with an expert to be appointed to reconstruct the crime scene. Luthuli died at the age of 69 when he was struck by a freight train while walking across a trestle bridge over the Umvoti River near his home in Stanger in July 1967. The 1960 Nobel Laureate was widely hailed for his stand in fighting for the human rights of black South Africans. The Sunday Independent reports that Justice & Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola said a thorough investigation iwas still under way to place the NPA in a position to make an informed decision. ‘The Director of Public Prosecutions makes a recommendation to the Minister for the reopening of an initial inquest by a designated judge, who is also empowered to take further evidence generally, or in respect of any matter, in effect for the purposes of the reconsideration of the entire evidence, including the existing record,’ he said. Lamola said extensive progress has been made. ‘The family was consulted and witness statements were obtained. Moreover, for the past four months, the prosecutors dealing with this matter have been waiting for the procurement of an expert to reconstruct the crime scene for the purposes of determining whether or not there are prospects of reopening the inquest into the death of Chief Albert Luthuli,’ he said.