Someone struck Chief Albert Luthuli on the back of his head with a heavy object, killing him.
This heavy instrument cracked his skull, resulting in the former ANC president-general collapsing to the ground.
Dr Albertina Nomathuli Luthuli, a licensed medical practitioner and Luthuli’s second-born daughter, made this statement at the Pietermaritzburg High Court in KwaZulu-Natal on Monday.
The inquest is presided over by Judge Nompumelelo Radebe.
The 93-year-old Albertina was testifying at the reopened inquest into her father’s unexplained death, which occurred in July 1967 after he was allegedly run over by a train.
After his death, an inquest determined that Luthuli was hit by a train while he was crossing a railway track. It stated that he fractured his skull and died.
Someone used instrument to hit Luthuli
Evidence leader advocate Annah Chuene opened Monday’s proceedings by asking Albertina to provide the inquest with her version of events on the day her father passed away.
In an affidavit dated June 6, 2019, Albertina gave her version of what happened on the day of Luthuli’s death on July 21, 1967.
She claimed that the apartheid government’s claim that her father died as a result of being struck by a train was not supported by his injuries.
“The passing train would shake the bridge when it was passing over the river. Adults would prefer to hold onto the rail until the train has passed. There is enough space between the person holding the rail and the train passing by,” she testified.
“We are convinced as a family that when he [Luthuli] was holding onto the rail, someone on the train used an instrument to hit him at the back of the head.
“The instrument was heavy enough to crack his skull and make him hold on more to the rail, twisting his hands and lower arm.”
She claimed Luthuli lost blood, fainted, and fell on the pedestrian plate as a result of the alleged blow to his head with the instrument.
Scene was not bloody and messy
According to Albertina, Luthuli’s two younger brothers were with him when he was admitted to Stanger Hospital following the incident.
“They asked him what happened, and he tried to speak, but the voice could not come out,” said Albertina.
She said when she went to the alleged accident scene, she believed that her father’s death was not an accident.
“When I got to the scene, I did not expect to find what I found when a person has been hit by a train.
“I expected a bloody and messy scene. However, the scene was not bloody and messy. The scene was not that of someone hit by a train,” said Albertina.
Albertina continues with her testimony on Tuesday.
The National Prosecuting Authority is attempting to have the preliminary conclusions regarding the death of Luthuli overturned by presenting evidence in court.
