Ramaphosa honours ‘Terror’ Lekota’s lifelong service
· The South African
President Cyril Ramaphosa is among those mourning struggle veteran and Congress of the People (COPE) leader Mosiuoa Patrick Lekota, who passed away at the age of 77 on Wednesday, 4 March.
Lekota has been described as a patriot, freedom fighter and devoted servant of the people.
Visit likesport.biz for more information.
RAMAPHOSA MOURNS LEKOTA
Ramaphosa said the state honours “Terror” Lekota for his steadfast commitment to non-racialism during the struggle and South Africa’s liberation.
“We will remember Mosiuoa for his patriotism, his intellect, and his personable nature, and we will continue to work for the inclusive, non-racial South Africa for which he sacrificed so much and worked so passionately,” the president said.
Ramaphosa noted that Lekota played an instrumental role in establishing the National Council of Provinces, adding that the formation of COPE reflected his firm commitment to his values and principles.
LEKOTA’S POLITICAL LIFE
Lekota became politically active at a young age. As a member and organiser of the South African Students’ Organisation, he was prosecuted by the apartheid regime and, in 1974, imprisoned on Robben Island. He spent eight years imprisoned alongside other struggle leaders, including Nelson Mandela.
After his release in 1982, he resumed his activism and became a leading figure in the United Democratic Front (UDF). His involvement in the UDF led to his conviction in 1988 during the four-year Delmas Treason Trial. Although he was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment, his conviction, along with those of his co-accused, was overturned in 1989.
In democratic South Africa, Lekota served as a long-standing member and National Chairperson of the African National Congress (ANC). He also became the first Premier of the Free State, the inaugural Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, and Minister of Defence in 1999.
Relations between Lekota and Ramaphosa were not without controversy. In 2019, while addressing the National Assembly, Lekota accused the president of betraying his comrades during the struggle, alleging that Ramaphosa had written to apartheid authorities claiming fellow activists had influenced him with communist ideas to secure a reduced sentence. The ANC strongly rejected the allegations as baseless.
WHAT STANDS OUT MOST TO YOU ABOUT LEKOTA’S POLITICAL JOURNEY?