The families of two iconic anti-apartheid activists, Chief Albert Luthuli and lawyer Mlungisi Griffiths Mxenge, are finally getting a chance to seek justice and closure after decades of uncertainty.
On Monday, April 14, the Pietermaritzburg High Court opened inquests into the deaths of these two men, who were both tragically killed during the Apartheid era.
Their families have long questioned the official explanations surrounding their deaths and have spent years pursuing clarity.
Re-examining the Circumstances of Luthuli’s and Mxenge’s Deaths
The court will now take a fresh look at the circumstances surrounding the deaths of these two prominent activists.
In 1967, the Apartheid government’s inquest concluded that Chief Albert Luthuli died in a train accident while crossing a railway track.
However, his family and many of his supporters have always questioned the validity of this explanation, given Luthuli’s stature and his ongoing leadership in the African National Congress (ANC) at the time of his death.
Luthuli was also the first African to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 1960 for his efforts against Apartheid.
Similarly, lawyer Mlungisi Griffiths Mxenge was brutally murdered in 1981, with his body found in Umlazi, south of Durban. His throat was slit, and he had sustained 45 stab wounds.
Nine years later, Butana Almond Nofemela, a member of an apartheid hit-squad, confessed to the murder.
In 1997, Nofemela, along with two other men, was found guilty of Mxenge’s death, though the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) granted them amnesty before any legal action could be taken.
NPA’s Effort to Overturn Previous Findings
In a significant development, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has taken steps to challenge the initial findings into the deaths of both Luthuli and Mxenge.
After extensive research and collaboration with the KwaZulu-Natal TRC unit, the national TRC office, the Hawks, and the National Archives, the NPA is presenting new evidence to the court in an effort to overturn the original conclusions about their deaths.
Relief for Luthuli’s Family
Chief Albert Luthuli’s grandson, Sandile Luthuli, spoke with relief outside the court on Monday, expressing the hope that this new inquest would finally bring closure to the family.
Luthuli’s two surviving daughters, both in their nineties, have longed to see justice in their lifetime.
Sandile Luthuli also voiced confidence in the NPA’s work and the new evidence being brought to light.
ANC Supports the Effort for Closure
The ANC has also welcomed the new inquest, with spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri expressing hope that the families of Luthuli and Mxenge would receive the closure they have sought for so long.
She emphasized the importance of this legal process in allowing the families to find peace.
The Long Road to Justice for Luthuli and Mxenge’s Families
For both the Luthuli and Mxenge families, the reopening of these inquests represents a long-awaited step toward understanding the true nature of these tragic events.
As the court proceedings continue, many are eager to see whether this new investigation will finally provide the answers the families have been seeking for so many years.