Johannesburg, South Africa – Mosiuoa ‘Terror’ Lekota, the leader of South Africa’s opposition party Congress of the People (COPE) has died after battling ill-health for months.
Lekota was 77.
A former members of the African National Congress (ANC) and liberation fighter, Lekota died in Johannesburg early Wednesday morning.
Lekota served as a Minister of Defence during the Thabo Mbeki presidency.
After leaving the ANC, Lekota has been a string critic of the South African government policies.
In his youth Lekota joined politics early and became a member of the South African Student Association (SASO) in the 1970s.
In 1974 Lekota was charged and imprisoned for terrorism by the racist apartheid regime. He served six years at Roben Island and served with Nelson Mandela.
Mosiuoa Lekota (1948-2026)