Doctors had ample time to transfer Chief Luthuli to Durban: witness

Chuene said it was futile for Stanger Hospital management to call a neurologist from Durban to attend to Luthuli.

“The neurologist was not going to help because Stanger Hospital does not have relevant equipment used by neurologists, what would help was to transfer Luthuli to a competent hospital on time,” said Chuene.

She said there was evidence before the inquest by one of Luthuli’s relatives that they received information that their father had been transferred to King Edward on the fateful day of July 21 1967.

“One of Luthuli’s daughters went to King Edward Hospital after they got the information that he was admitted there but only to be told he was at Stanger. That suggests there was a plan to transfer him but someone at Stanger Hospital for some strange reason interfered,” she said.

Ntsele said it might be true that someone at Stanger Hospital refused to allow Luthuli to be transferred so that he would not receive help and would die.

There was evidence before the court that Luthuli had a gash towards the back of his head and that the wound was not bandaged.

Chuene said it was also strange for Dr Mary Gregersen from Stanger Hospital, who was also a superintendent, to attend to Luthuli while there were attending doctors including a district surgeon, Dr G Misra.

The inquest was adjourned to Monday.

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