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The Congress of the People (COPE) has confirmed the passing of its president, Mosiuoa Gerard Patrick Lekota, earlier on Wednesday following a period of illness.
Born in Kroonstad, Free State, Lekota was involved in the Black Consciousness Movement and became a permanent organizer for the South African Students’ Organisation (SASO).
The 77-year-old was imprisoned on Robben Island from 1974 to 1982 for organizing celebrations for Mozambique’s independence.
As a leading member of the United Democratic Front (UDF), he was arrested again and sentenced in the 1985–1989 Delmas Treason Trial.
Lekota served as the first premier of the Free State (1994–1996) and minister of defense (1999–2008) and founded the Congress of the People (COPE) party in 2008.
Speaking about the passing, acting leader Teboho Loate said Lekota had been ill for quite a while and had been in and out of the hospital until this time when this happened, and they feel the loss from this situation.Â
“I’ve known him from back then when he was still at school in Marianhill. When I got to high school in Matatiele, that’s when I started hearing about his name.
“When he left [Marianhill], I again met him in the Free State when he became the premier – I was working for IDASA then. He’s the person that recruited me to join the government at that stage.
“There has been a lot, but what I can say is that to me he’s one of those leaders whom you could look upon because of his outright honesty about things he said. The guidance that he has given us as COPE—many of us grew up under his arm in the political field.
“I’m sure South Africans will always remember that he has been one person who is outspoken when it comes to what needs to be done in the right way—that practice he also did with COPE.
Lekota’s vision for COPE’s future
“As the party, we have had a lot of challenges, but he stood in there to make sure that COPE plays a significant role within the country’s politics,” he expressed.
Loate highlighted that Lekota’s vision for COPE’s future, as a founder, remains paramount.
He added, “From the time that his health was giving him challenges, which he has always shared with us, we started organizing ourselves to make sure that his legacy remains with the party.
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“The most important thing we are doing at the moment is to work towards congresses. We have to start holding congresses starting from local municipalities up to the national congress, where we will be able to appoint the new leadership.
“We will continue to play our role in election contestations, so ours is to ensure that COPE remains relevant in the politics of South Africa.”
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