Chief Albert Luthuli and Griffiths Mxenge
Source: Africa Publicity
South Africa’s ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), has welcomed the decision to reopen inquests into the deaths of its former President General, Chief Albert Luthuli, and activist lawyer Griffiths Mxenge. The inquests are set to begin at the Pietermaritzburg High Court.
ANC Spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri has stated that the party and its allies are heartened by the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) decision, emphasizing that some families didn’t get closure from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. “Some families did not get closure and must be afforded the opportunity to achieve this,” Bhengu-Motsiri said.
Uncovering the Truth
ANC NEC member Dr. Zweli Mkhize believes proper inquests will help families find closure and ensure history is accurately recorded. “As for the president of the ANC, President Albert Luthuli, his story of the accident with the train was never believed by anybody… We hope this would give a whole new sense of what happened there,” Mkhize said.
Regarding Mxenge’s death, Mkhize described it as “very sad, very tragic”. Mxenge was brutally murdered in Umlazi in 1981, and although three former apartheid security police members were implicated, they were granted amnesty by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Calls for Further Investigations
Mkhize highlighted that many liberation struggle leaders’ deaths remain shrouded in mystery, suggesting further investigations are necessary. “We believe that the Truth and Reconciliation did what they would, but I think there should have been an avenue to open up further investigations to confirm the truth… and follow up on cases that haven’t been properly closed,” he said.
Have a press release, feature, article for publication? Send it to us via Whatsapp on +233543452542.
