Chief Albert Luthuli, the 69-year-old leader of the African National Congress, died on July 21, 1967, possibly after being hit by a train. While the inquest ruled his death accidental, new evidence casts doubt on this conclusion. On the day of his death, he followed his usual routine, walking from his home to his store and sugarcane fields. Eyewitness accounts describe Luthuli as careful near trains, contradicting the account of the train driver, who claimed Luthuli did not react as the train approached. A new inquest has been reopened to investigate further.
"Luthuli reached the store by 9:30am and set off again to check on his sugar cane fields about half an hour later. This much is not in dispute."
"Train driver Stephanus Lategan told a 1967 inquest that at 10:36am, as his 760-tonne train approached the Umvoti River Bridge, he noticed a pedestrian walking across the bridge and sounded his whistle."
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