A train expert has poked holes in the written statement of the goods train driver whose locomotive allegedly struck former ANC president Chief Albert Luthuli in July 1967.
During the reopened inquest into the mysterious death of former Luthuli taking place at the Pietermaritzburg High Court in KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday, the statement of the goods train driver was read before the inquest.
The statement of the train driver, Stephanus Lategan, was read by prosecutor Annah Chuene.
In the statement, Lategan says on July 21, 1967, the day of the alleged accident, Luthuli did not attempt to move on the bridge he was walking on when the train was travelling past him.
Train expert Lesley Charles Labuschagne disputed Lategan’s version.
Labuschagne told the inquest that he is a qualified steam locomotive driver with 28 years of experience.
He said he is a co-owner of the Harties Steam Trains Company in the Hartebeespoort Dam in the North West.
Labuschagne took the stand on Wednesday and has been testifying about his findings when he reconstructed Luthuli’s accident scene.
Chuene asked Labuschagne to give his opinion regarding a statement made by Lategan.
Insinuation that Luthuli wanted to commit suicide
In his statement, Lategan said he does not know if Luthuli saw his oncoming train on that fateful day.
He said Luthuli did not attempt to run sideways when the train was passing him, adding that had he moved sideways, the train would not have hit him.
Labuschagne said Lategan is insinuating that Luthuli wanted to commit suicide.
“I do not believe that Chief Luthuli would have walked straight towards the train,” said Labuschagne.
Lategan also said he accompanied police to the hospital mortuary on July 24, 1967, to identify Luthuli’s body.
Labuschagne said in ordinary circumstances when there is a train accident, the train driver is not called to identify the body of the deceased.
“Why was the driver called to identify the body? Normally in an accident, there is no need to call the driver to identify the body,” said Labuschagne.
Luthuli died from head injuries
On Wednesday, Labuschagne said that the fact that Luthuli was still alive and taken to the hospital by an ambulance after allegedly being hit by a train shows that he was not hit by a train because if he was hit by a train, he would have been dismembered and died instantly.
Labuschagne concluded his testimony on Thursday. The inquest, presided over by Judge Nompumelelo Radebe, continues on Monday with a new witness expected to testify.
The National Prosecuting Authority is presenting evidence in a bid to have the initial findings on the death of iconic anti-apartheid figure overturned.
Luthuli allegedly died from head injuries sustained after being hit by a goods train in KwaDukuza (formerly Stanger) in July 1967.
A subsequent inquest at the Stanger magistrate’s court in September of that year found the incident to be an accident.
The apartheid government claimed that a goods train hit Luthuli. This claim has been dismissed by Luthuli’s family and the ANC.
