The African National Congress (ANC) welcomes and fully embraces the historic ruling by the Pietermaritzburg High Court, which has finally established that our former President-General, Isithwalandwe-Seaparankoe Chief Albert John Mvumbi Luthuli, was brutally beaten to death by the apartheid police in 1967.
This judgment corrects a long-standing distortion of history; overturning the apartheid-era inquest that falsely claimed Chief Luthuli died after being struck by a goods train. The Court, presided over by Judge Nompumelelo Hadebe, affirmed that both oral and documentary evidence presented in the reopened inquest do not support those discredited findings. This ruling brings justice, truth, and dignity to the memory of one of South Africa’s greatest sons and to all those who suffered under apartheid brutality.
Honouring Chief Albert Luthuli
Chief Albert Luthuli, a teacher, traditional leader, and freedom fighter, served as President-General of the ANC from 1952 until his passing in 1967. He led the movement during one of its most difficult and defining periods — the era of the Defiance Campaign, the drafting of the Freedom Charter, and the banning of the ANC.
As a man of peace, courage, and moral conviction, Chief Luthuli became the first African recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1960 for his non-violent resistance against apartheid.
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Luthuli’s Legacy and the ANC’s Commitment
Under his leadership, the ANC deepened its commitment to unity, democracy, and the vision of a non-racial, non-sexist South Africa. He stood firmly for the principle that “the road to freedom is via the cross”, reminding generations of activists that the struggle for liberation demands sacrifice and integrity.
This judgment reaffirms what the ANC, the liberation movement, and the oppressed people of South Africa have always known: that Chief Luthuli was a victim of state-sanctioned murder. It is a moral victory not only for his family but for all martyrs of our struggle whose lives were cut short by the cruelty of apartheid.
The ANC commends the efforts of all those who fought tirelessly to reopen this inquest — historians, human rights lawyers, the Luthuli family, and the Department of Justice — for their pursuit of truth and accountability. This ruling restores historical integrity and strengthens our nation’s collective memory.
Recommitment to Luthuli’s Vision
As the movement that Chief Luthuli once led, the ANC recommits itself to defending the values he lived and died for — freedom, equality, peace, and justice. His spirit continues to guide our journey of national renewal and social transformation.
The ANC calls on all South Africans to reflect on this moment as a reminder of the sacrifices made for our democracy, and to rededicate ourselves to the ongoing task of building a just, united, and prosperous South Africa.