Commemorating 40th Anniversary of Chief Albert Luthuli's Dearth

Press Release for immediate release

The commemoration of the 40th anniversary of Chief Albert Luthuli?s death will be held on the 24th July 2007 at 18h00 to 20h30, Old Fort Conference room at Constitution Hill, as part of Constitution Hill ongoing public programs. 

Albert John Mvumbi Luthuli was born in c1898 in the then British protectorate of Rhodesia (present-day Zimbabwe). His parents were evangelists of the American Board mission and his father had travelled with the American Board missionaries from Natal to Rhodesia. Later his mother followed his father and Albert was born there. Albert Luthuli?s father died in Rhodesia while Albert was still young. Shortly after his father?s death the family moved back to Natal (Stanger) and Luthuli?s mother placed Albert in the care of his uncle, Martin Luthuli, who was then the chief of amakholwa mission reserve in the Umvoti district. Albert went to school at Groutville and later attended Ohlange Institute and Nuttall College at Edendale where he obtained his primary education certificate in 1917.

Constitution Hill is a unique mixed-use development in the Inner City of Johannesburg implemented by the JDA, funded by Blue IQ and the new home of the Constitutional Court, the protector of our basic rights and freedoms. Constitution Hill is also the site of Johannesburg?s notorious Old Fort Prison Complex, commonly known as Number Four, where thousands of ordinary people were brutally punished before the dawn of democracy in 1994. Many of South Africa?s leading political activists, including Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela, were detained here. 

In addition to the permanent exhibitions, interactive experiences and educational programmes , Constitution Hill offers venues for hire, as well as the Dome, the location for film shoot service, day and night tours, a full calendar of public programmes and exhibitions that bring the site to life and enable the public to connect with the activities of the Constitutional Court.

For Constitution Hill programs, events calendar and exhibitions contact

Alice Moloto
Manager Marketing, Sales and Administration

Mxolisi Dlamuka
Public Program Manager

Darryl Petersen
Site Director
011 381 3100