NUMEROUS activists died as a result of the brutality and dirty tricks of the apartheid state; many in circumstances yet to be fully investigated. But the death of Albert Luthuli is unlikely to be one of them as suggested by Farouk Araie (Witness, January 14).
On 21 July 1967, Luthuli, an ageing man in indifferent health, was fatally struck by a train while crossing a bridge on a narrow gangway. The fact that he was following a familiar route does not lessen the chances of a genuine accident and not a shred of evidence has ever been advanced to show that his death was staged. This idea is based on pure speculation; or is it perhaps wishful thinking for some reason?
The government had no reason to kill Luthuli, who had been banned and restricted to Groutville for many years. He was a lifelong committed Christian, anti-communist, and not a supporter of armed struggle. And, by the time of his death he had been marginalised by the ANC. In fact, the regime had every reason to keep him alive.
Allowing conspiracy theory to run riot over 50 years after Luthuli’s death does a disservice to the many victims of apartheid violence whose cases remain open under the post-apartheid government.
- This letter was published in the Witness on 18 January 2022.