Chief Albert Luthuli's daughter-in-law details the last moments of his life
Wilhelmina Luthuli took the witness stand on Tuesday at the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg, which is hearing the re-opened inquest into the death of her father-in-law.
Wilhelmina May Luthuli, daughter-in-law to Chief Albert Luthuli. Picture: Thabiso Goba/Eyewitness News.
JOHANNESBURG - The daughter-in-law of Chief Albert Luthuli has shared harrowing details of the last moments of the late African National Congress (ANC) struggle stalwart.
Wilhelmina Luthuli took the witness stand on Tuesday at the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg, which is hearing the reopened inquest into the death of her father-in-law.
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Luthuli died at the age of 69, with the apartheid government saying he was knocked over by a steam train in Stanger, KwaZulu-Natal.
Wilhelmina described her father-in-law as a lively, active old man prior to his death.
Even at 69, Wilhelmina said that Luthuli still tended to his farm and business.
She said that a false narrative was created by the apartheid government and media at the time that he was in poor health, both mentally and physically.
On the day of his death, Wilhelmina said she went to see him in hospital and he had a deep wound on top of his head.
"His one arm was limp. There was not much blood. He could recognise our faces, but he could not communicate. He was mumbling."
Wilhelmina continues with her testimony on Wednesday.