05.03.2026
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Late COPE leader Lekota was a ‘transparent person’: Rev Chikane

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  • The late leader of COPE , Mosioua Lekota

Struggle icon the Reverend Frank Chikane has described the late Congress of the People (COPE) leader Mosioua Lekota as a transparent person.

Lekota died in a hospital in Midrand, Johannesburg, in the early hours of Wednesday at the age of 77. 

Lekota was the first Premier of the Free State post-apartheid.  

Chikane says that Lekota was a very honest person who played his cards openly.

“He was an honest person. He was very open, actually an open book. Terror was not secretive, and he played his cards very open. Even against the system, it was the same. When he went into government, he served as best as he could. And when he left and became leader of COPE, he still maintained the same demeanor of a person who’s committed to the liberation of the people and changing the quality of life of people in this country.” 

African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee member, Lindiwe Sisulu says Lekota had been committed to serving the ANC before breaking away to found COPE.

“Terror was a 100% given to his responsibility towards the ANC. He loved the organisation, and he was very passionate man in everything that he does, that he is committed to. A very committed cadre. Imprisoned at a very young age, by the time he came back he had made up his mind that he’s going to make sure that the country is liberated.”

‘Caring farther’

The Lekota family spokesperson Dennis Bloem says the family is devastated by the death of the anti-apartheid veteran. He further describes him as a caring farther.

 

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