Killing Chief Albert Luthuli only way for apartheid govt to stop his influence - ANC's Radebe

JOHANNESBURG – African National Congress (ANC) veteran Jeff Radebe says killing Chief Albert Luthuli was the only way for the apartheid government to stop his influence.

Radebe was testifying on Tuesday at the recently-opened inquest into Luthuli’s death, currently being heard at the Pietermaritzburg High Court.

Luthuli died in 1967 with the inquest at the time ruling his death as accidental, saying he was hit by a steam train.

READ: NPA seeks to discredit 1967 inquest into Albert Luthuli's death

Unlike most chiefs, Luthuli does not come from a royal family.

The title was given to him by the apartheid government as the chief of Groutville. A title he was later stripped of for participating in ANC activities. The tag, however, remained.

Radebe described Luthuli as the chief of the people, adding that he had the unique ability at the time to mobilise people across all races.

Radebe said Luthuli did not die by accident but was killed by the government at the time as a way to suppress dissent against apartheid.

The inquest continues.

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