PIETERMARITZBURG – The reopened inquest into the death of Inkosi Albert John Mvumbi Luthuli returned to the Pietermaritzburg High Court this week for the state’s closing arguments.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, Chief Luthuli died on 21 July 1967, and it was widely reported that he died soon after being struck by a goods train. “A subsequent inquest held in September 1967 found no evidence showing any criminal culpability on the part of any of the employees of the South African Railways or anyone else,” Ramkisson-Kara explained.
She said in April 2025, the NPA, through the Director of Public Prosecutions in KwaZulu-Natal, Adv. Elaine Harrison, had the inquest reopened.
“During the closing arguments, which began on 13 October 2025, the state went through the evidence led at the original inquest, showing the inconsistencies therein. The state also referred to the evidence led in the reopened inquest, where witnesses for the state examined the evidence from the initial inquest, finding inaccuracies and improbabilities,” she noted.
She added in closing, the state requested that the court find that Chief Luthuli was murdered. “Further, the state recommended that the court order a full investigation into the disappearance of a certain Mbhemu Mnyandu. Evidence led in court indicates that Mnyandu disappeared as a consequence of his being an eyewitness to the assault on Chief Luthuli.”
The matter was postponed to 30 October 2025 for judgment.
