July 21 in the history of South Africa
Today, Friday 21, marks the day in 1967 on which Chief Albert Luthuli died after being struck by a train on a railway bridge close to the home in Groutville, then Stanger, KwaZulu-Natal that he had been confined to by the Apartheid regime.
Chief Luthuli was the president of the African National Congress (ANC) from 1952 until his death in 1967.
Luthuli was born near Bulawayo in Zimbabwe in 1898. His family moved to KZN in 1908.
He was a teacher by profession and a preacher of the Methodist Church.
In 1960 he received the Nobel Peace Prize and was the most widely known and respected African leader of his era.
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His political activities and defiance brought him into direct conflict with the Apartheid government.
Luthuli was banned from public gatherings and confined to his home.
This however did not stop him from playing a political role in the country.
Throughout his life Luthuli steadfastly believed that a non-racial society in South Africa could be achieved.
The Chief Albert Luthuli Municipality in the Gert Sibande district, was named after this leader.
Information is accredited to www.sahistory.org.za/…/chief-albert-luthuli-nobel-peace-prize-winner-and-former-pr.
