After decades of unanswered questions and emotional weight, two South African families are finally getting a chance to seek the truth.
On Monday, 14 April, the Pietermaritzburg High Court opened the long-awaited inquests into the deaths of anti-Apartheid icons Chief Albert Luthuli and lawyer Mlungisi Griffiths Mxenge — both of whom died under suspicious and violent circumstances during the Apartheid era.
These hearings mark a significant moment not only for the families but for the country, as it revisits two of the most controversial deaths in its history with the hope of uncovering long-buried truths.
Revisiting the Mysterious Death of Chief Albert Luthuli
Chief Albert Luthuli was not only a key figure in the liberation struggle — he was also the first African Nobel Peace Prize winner, awarded in 1960 for his peaceful resistance to Apartheid.
At the time of his death in 1967, he was serving as president of the then-banned African National Congress (ANC).
The official story was that Luthuli was hit by a train while crossing a railway track.
But from the beginning, his family and fellow activists questioned the details.
They believed there was far more to the story than what was told — and this new inquest could finally provide clarity.
The Brutal Murder of Mlungisi Griffiths Mxenge
The story of lawyer and activist Mlungisi Griffiths Mxenge is even more chilling.
In 1981, his body was found in Umlazi, south of Durban.
He had been viciously attacked — his throat slit and stabbed 45 times.
Almost a decade later, the truth began to emerge. A former member of a government hit squad, Butana Almond Nofemela, confessed to being involved in Mxenge’s assassination.
Along with David Tshikalange and Dirk Coetzee, Nofemela was found guilty in 1997.
However, in a controversial move, all three men were granted amnesty by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) before any sentencing could be handed down.
That decision cut short what could have been full justice — and left Mxenge’s family still grappling with unanswered questions.
The NPA Pushes for a New Legal Perspective
This time around, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is taking a strong stance.
According to TimesLIVE, the NPA says it now has enough evidence to challenge the original conclusions reached about both deaths.
In collaboration with the Hawks and the National Archives, the NPA is prepared to present new findings before the court.
Their goal? To officially overturn the historical verdicts — including the conclusion that Luthuli’s death was accidental and to revisit the unresolved legal aspects of Mxenge’s murder.
Relief and Hope for the Luthuli Family
Outside the courtroom, the atmosphere was emotional. Sandile Luthuli, the grandson of Chief Albert Luthuli, shared his family’s relief.
He told SABC News that two of the late leader’s daughters — both now in their nineties — are hoping to see the truth revealed in their lifetime.
Sandile also expressed faith in the new evidence brought forward, saying that he believes the process is finally on the right path.
The ANC Welcomes the New Inquest
The ANC, too, has welcomed the move to re-open the cases.
Party spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said the inquest is “heartening,” and that she believes it will finally bring peace and closure to the Luthuli and Mxenge families.
It’s also a chance, she noted, for the nation to honor the legacy of these fallen heroes by ensuring that the truth — no matter how long it takes — is never buried.
Will This Be the Justice Their Families Have Been Waiting For?
The question on many South Africans’ minds now is — will this process finally give the families the closure they deserve?
After years of pain, speculation, and silence, the re-opening of these cases offers a glimmer of hope.
Only time will tell if justice will truly be served — but for the loved ones of Chief Luthuli and Griffiths Mxenge, this is the beginning of a long-overdue reckoning.