31 October 2025
TO ALL MEDIA HOUSES
PRESS RELEASE
NO EMBARGO
Al Jama-ah welcomes the KwaZulu-Natal High Court ruling that former ANC President Chief Albert Luthuli was beaten to death by apartheid police:
Al Jama-ah Party has welcomed the ruling by the KwaZulu-Natal High Court that the former President General of the ANC Chief Albert Luthuli was beaten to death by apartheid police. The court set aside the 1967 inquest that found Luthuli died because of being hit by a goods train.
During his term as Member of Parliament, Hon Ganief Hendricks has on several occasions raised concerns about the delays in the reopening of the inquests into Imam Abdullah Haron who died in detention on 27 September 1969 after he was brutally tortured, and the killing of Chief Luthuli on 21 July 1967.
As an MP, Hendricks questioned the delays through submitting statements and questions to Parliament, and questioned the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) when it appeared before the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services.
At the time, Hendricks insisted that the NPA’s National Director, Ms Shamila Batohi ringfenced budgets for inquests into deaths in detentions instead of using the budget meant for inquest on other matters.
Al Jama-ah party assisted in the prosecution of those involved in the murder of Chief Luthuli by making available its offices in Stanger to the Luthuli family. “We have always supported the family’s position that Chief Luthuli was tortured and beaten to death by the apartheid police and thrown under a train. The International Nobel Peace Prize award to Luthuli in 1960 and the visit by US Senator Robert Kennedy to the family in Groutville infuriated the apartheid government and this contributed to the decision to take him out,” says Hendricks.
The party reiterates its calls that the pensions of those apartheid police officials found guilty of murdering detainees, to be withdrawn and that their generational wealth and assets be confiscated. “We further call on the ANC and other liberation movements to act hastily in pursuing inquests into the murder of their members and leaders,” says Hendricks.
Issued by Asghar Khan on behalf of Al Jama-ah
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