Johannesburg – Founder of the Congress of the People and former South African defence minister, Mosiuoa Lekota, was laid to rest in Bloemfontein on Saturday after dying at the age of 77 following a long illness.
Nicknamed “Terror” for his tough soccer style in his youth, Lekota was remembered by political leaders and fellow activists as a resilient anti-apartheid struggle veteran who spent eight years on Robben Island after being jailed in 1974.
Tributes at the funeral highlighted his courage, strong convictions and lifelong commitment to justice and democracy.
Speakers included Popo Molefe, Fikile Mbalula, Trevor Manuel and Paul Mashatile, who praised his role in the liberation struggle and in democratic South Africa.
After 1994, Lekota served as the first premier of the Free State, chaired the National Council of Provinces and was defence minister from 1999 to 2008.
He later split from the African National Congress following the ousting of Thabo Mbeki and helped form COPE in 2008, one of the biggest political breakaways of the democratic era.
Photos| Special official funeral service for the late former Minister Mosiuoa Gerard Patrick Lekota. #GovZAUpdates pic.twitter.com/bsG6Wh0hez
— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) March 14, 2026
Follow African Insider on Facebook, X and Instagram
Picture: Screenshot
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Betha Madhomu
