Cope leader Mosiuoa “Terror” Lekota dies at age 77

Congress of the People (Cope) co-founderMosiuoa “Terror” Lekotahas died at age 77. Lekota died early on Wednesday morning after a long illness. He was surrounded by his family, spokesperson and his eldest son Kotana Lekota said, adding: “Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.” Lekota was an anti-apartheid activist who served a prison sentence onRobben Islandfor treason.

After his release from the prison where Nelson Mandela was also jailed, Lekota joined the United Democratic Front (UDF) and subsequently theANCafter it was unbanned. He was the first premier of the Free State after the ANC took power from the apartheid government. Lekota later served as minister of defence. Following the ANC’s Polokwane conference in December 2007, where his ally, former presidentThabo Mbeki, lost the party leadership toJacob Zuma, Lekota and senior ANC leaders, among themMbazima Shilowa, broke away from the former liberation movement to form Cope.