The reopened inquest into the death of ANC president-general Chief Albert Luthuli heard evidence that a witness saw two train staff members assaulting him with a shovel on July 21 1967.
Isiah Bafi Mdletshe, 70, a relative of Luthuli's induna Thomas Mnyandu from the Tongaat area, told the court about his cousin's eyewitness account on Wednesday. He said Luthuli and Mnyandu communicated by letter.
Mdletshe said Mnyandu's son — his cousin — who saw Luthuli being assaulted, disappeared after he was taken by police to question him about the incident.
“I was told the police said they would return him, but they never did and the family does not know what happened to him,” he said.
Mdletshe said his cousin had been sent to Luthuli to give him a letter and travelled to him via bicycle from their home in Groutville.
“He went to look for the chief at his house but he could not find him, so he went to the sugarcane field only to find him being assaulted by two train staff with a shovel,” said Mdletshe, adding a train was stationary when the incident took place.
He said as soon as his cousin saw the incident, he fled.
“The train staff called him, but he continued to run away fearing for his life. When he came home he related what he saw and the family later that day heard Luthuli had died,” he said.
Mdletshe said a few days after the incident police came looking for his cousin.
“The family looked for him in police stations and mortuaries, but they could not find him. No-one knows what happened to him.”
He said his family was not happy that he had come to testify in court.
“I only came because I was pushed by circumstances.”
On Thursday the court will hear the evidence of Sibongile Mnyandu, the sister of Mdletshe's cousin who disappeared after being taken by police.
The inquest continues.
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