Inquest hears Chief Luthuli held meetings at employee’s family shack

Home | Inquest hears Chief Luthuli held meetings at employee’s family shack The Pietermaritzburg High Court in KwaZulu-Natal has heard that the late former African National Congress (ANC) president, Chief Albert Luthuli , was sometimes assisted by the family of his employee to hold secret meetings during the liberation struggle. This has been revealed by the employee’s daughter, Nozizwe kaMabaso-Mhlongo, who was testifying before the reopened inquest into Luthuli’s death . Her father Stimela Mabaso worked for Luthuli at his store.

Chief Luthuli was reportedly killed after being struck by a goods train at Groutville in 1967. However, there are doubts about the version provided by Apartheid-era police regarding his death. Luthuli’s family wants to overturn the findings of the initial inquest which found that his death was accidental.



KaMabaso- Mhlongo said the shack his family lived in would be used as a space for political meetings. “When Luthuli was still alive, only the shop stood there. My parents lived in a shack on the premises.

Luthuli hid his documents in our shack. Although it was constructed of mostly mud, it made for the most inconspicuous meeting area, for political meetings. My earliest recall actions are that’s where the most important discussions of a political nature took place.

Meetings sometimes took place at night as there was no electricity. If it was late, there was no light. This is the last place the special branch would expect for a meeting to be taking place.

Mr Mangosuthu Buthelezi was also a frequent visitor.” Injuries described to court Earlier this month, Luthuli’s daughter-in-law, Wilhelminah Luthuli, described his injuries to the court, saying that the family never believed that he was struck by a train as the original inquest found. She told the court some important evidence was never revealed in that inquest, saying she believes it was to cover up for the government’s involvement in Luthuli’s death.

Wilhemina said her father-in-law left home early in the morning as was his habit. She says when she saw him in hospital, he had a deep gash on the top of his head. “The wound was not bandaged.

It was open, he was trying to speak. It was painful to watch him struggling to speak. He was really trying hard to say something but he could not.

His one arm was limp. There was not much blood. He could recognise our faces but just could not communicate.

He was mumbling,” she added. She said that her father-in-law passed away quietly that afternoon. Chief Albert Luthuli Inquest | Daughter- in-law testifies: -Additional reporting by Dries Liebenberg NEWS APP SABC © 2025.