President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended his condolences following the death of struggle veteran and former minister Mosiuoa Gerard Patrick Lekota, who died on Wednesday at the age of 77.
Lekota was a former Premier of the Free State, Minister of Defence and co-founder of the Congress of the People (COPE).
In a statement issued by the Presidency, Ramaphosa described Lekota as a patriot whose life was closely linked to South Africa’s liberation struggle and democratic transition.
Born on 13 August 1948 in Kroonstad in the Free State, Lekota became politically active as a young man. He was a member and organiser of the South African Students’ Organisation. In 1974, he was imprisoned on Robben Island for his anti-apartheid activities. He spent eight years there alongside other political prisoners, including Nelson Mandela.
After his release in 1982, Lekota joined the United Democratic Front (UDF), a coalition of more than 400 civic, religious and community organisations formed to oppose the apartheid government’s Tricameral Parliament.
In 1988, he was convicted in the Delmas Treason Trial and sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment. The convictions were overturned on appeal in 1989.
After 1994, Lekota became the first Premier of the Free State, serving from 1994 to 1996. He later served as the inaugural chairperson of the National Council of Provinces from 1997 to 1999. In 1999, he was appointed Minister of Defence, a position he held until 2008.
In 2008, he co-founded COPE.
“South Africa has lost a patriot, a freedom fighter, and a servant of the people,” Ramaphosa said. He said Lekota’s life reflected resilience and a commitment to non-racialism.
Ramaphosa conveyed his condolences to Lekota’s family, COPE and his colleagues across the political spectrum.
