Staff Reporter
Veteran politician Mosiuoa “Terror” Lekota, the president and co-founder of the Congress of the People (COPE) and a former defence minister, has died.
Lekota was 77.
He died in the early hours of Wednesday after a period of illness, the party said in a statement.
“On behalf of the leadership, membership, and supporters of COPE, we extend our deepest condolences to the Lekota family and all South Africans who mourn this loss,” COPE said in the statement.
“The Lekota family has requested privacy during this difficult time, and the party asks the public and media to respect their wishes. The party will issue regular media statements to inform the nation about developments.”
A veteran of the anti-apartheid struggle, Lekota served as an ANC premier of the Free State after South Africa’s first democratic elections and later became defence minister under former president Thabo Mbeki.
He helped launch COPE in 2008 after breaking with the ANC.
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