Congress of the People (COPE) leader and former African National Congress (ANC) chairperson Mosiuoa Lekota has died at the age of 76 following a long illness.
An anti-apartheid activist, Lekota played a prominent role in South Africa’s liberation struggle before serving in government as Free State premier and later Minister of Defence. In 2008, he co-founded COPE after breaking away from the ANC. The party, however, failed to return to Parliament in the 2024 general elections, marking the end of his formal political career.
Speaking to VOC News, politician and lawyer Zwelethu Madasa reflected on Lekota’s legacy.
“I was thinking that he was nicknamed Terror on the soccer field because of his giftedness in soccer, but actually, in real life, he was a terror to the terrorist apartheid state,” Madasa said.
Though from a younger generation, Madasa recalled Lekota’s reputation in the 1980s as a prominent and fearless United Democratic Front figure. “He was very prominent, fearless, and confrontational. That was his character,” he said.
Lekota was imprisoned on Robben Island, where he shifted from Black Consciousness to non-racialism under the influence of leaders, including Nelson Mandela. After the ANC was unbanned, he became known for his vocal and principled stance within party structures.
Madasa recounted a caucus meeting following the legal troubles of Jacob Zuma, where Lekota rebuked party members for publicly supporting individuals who had been convicted of crimes. “He was on fire, ” he said, ‘These things you are doing are not allowed. The ANC has processes, and you have violated our processes.’ The whole caucus was silent,” Madasa said.
“He did not care about popularity. He was very steadfast on principle.”
Listen to the full interview below:
VOC News
Photo: X/ @PresidencyZA
