K PADAYACHEE of Tongaat writes: The article ‘New Luthuli Inquest?’ (April 6) refers.
I grew up in the Gledhow area and to get to Stanger used to take a bus.
One summer holiday around midday, in the mid1960’s I saw Chief Luthuli board the bus, clad in khaki clothes and carrying a leather briefcase.
The chief took his seat, spoke to no one and soon fell off to sleep.
Before departure, the driver of the bus went around collecting fares from all the passenger’s, but he did not dare wake the chief from his slumber. On reflection, I think the Chief would have walked to the railway to get to the bus stop, for this would have been the shortest route.
Once we had crossed the Umvoti rail bridge situated downstream from his home, now demolished, it is no more than 2kms from Gledhow. I know this because I have walked those lines as a schoolboy growing up on Addington farm.
In those days the railways were not electrified, and the engines were big, clanking behemoths belching black smoke.
One had to be fully alert to avoid being struck by one. Wood or cane sticking out of the wagons could easily catch one’s clothing and pull one onto the tracks. It is worth remembering the R102 is but metres away from the Chief’s house.
Even more than half a century ago it was well served by private bus companies and taxis.
Was it the Chief’s habit to use the railroads as a conduit to pass or to carry the organisation’s clandestine messages?
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