South Africa’s Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola, has announced the decision to re-open the inquests into the deaths of prominent anti-apartheid activists Chief Albert Luthuli, Mlungisi Griffiths Mxenge, and civic leader Booi Mantyi.
This move comes following recommendations from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and aims to uncover the truth surrounding these historical cases as reported by SAnews.
According to the media statement release, Luthuli passed away on 21 July 1967 with an official report stating that he was hit by a train. However, an inquest held in September 1967 did not consider a mathematical and scientific report which revealed that, that was highly unlikely.
Looking at the case of Mlungisi Griffiths Mxenge, he was an anti-Apartheid activist and civil rights lawyer who was found dead in 1981 with multiple lacerations on his body.
“A thorough investigation was not done into the death of Mr. Mxenge. The Harms Commission and Truth and Reconciliation Commission revealed that orders to kill Mr. Mxenge came from Vlakplaas head Dirk Coetzee. Dirk Coetzee and his accomplices Nofomela, and Tshikalanga were granted amnesty for the murder of Mxenge.”
Booi Mantyi, who was killed in an alleged altercation with apartheid-era police in 1985, also has his case re-opened. The initial inquest held in the same year found no one responsible for his death. However, a recent investigation uncovered a new eyewitness who had not testified previously. In light of this development, Minister Lamola believes it is imperative to re-open the inquest into Booi’s death to ensure justice is served.
“With these inquests, we open very real wounds which are more difficult to open 30 years into our democracy, but none the less, the interest of justice can never be bound by time, the truth must prevail,” the Minister said.
Media Statement
Date: 13 May 2024Re-Opening of Inquests into the deaths of Chief Albert Luthuli, Mlungisi Griffiths Mxenge and Mr Booi Mantyi
The Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Mr @RonaldLamola, has accepted and acted on recommendations from the National… pic.twitter.com/9UqZNyiQQN
— Chrispin Phiri 🇿🇦🇵🇸 (@Chrispin_JPhiri) May 13, 2024
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