South Africa mourns the loss of a titan of the liberation struggle. Mosiuoa Gerard Patrick “Terror” Lekota, the veteran politician and co-founder of the Congress of the People (COPE), passed away in the early hours of Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at a Johannesburg hospital.He was 77.

Lekota's death marks the end of an era for a man whose life was inextricably woven into the fabric of South Africa's transition from apartheid to democracy.

A life define by resistance

Lekota earned the nickname “Terror” not from his political ferocity, but from his prowess on the soccer field as a young man. However, that tenacity quickly transferred to the political arena.

  • The Struggle: A former permanent organiser for the South African Students' Organisation (SASO), Lekota was a key figure in the Black Consciousness Movement.
  • Robben Island: His activism led to his imprisonment on Robben Island from 1974 to 1982, where he served alongside figures likes Nelson Mandela.
  • The Delmas Treason Trial: Shortly after his release, he became a leader in the United Democratic Front (UDF) and was again imprisoned following the high-profile Delmas Treason Trial in 1985.

From governance to defiance

Following the 1994 democratic elections, Lekota held several high-ranking positions with the ANC-led government:

  • First Premier of the Free State (1994-1996)
  • Minister of Defence (1999-2008)
  • National Chairperson of the ANC

His political trajectory took a historic turn in 2008. Following the “recalled” resignation of President Thabo Mbeki, Lekota led a high-profile breakaway from the ANC, citing a departure from the party's core values. This culminated in the founding of COPE, a party that initially shook the South African political landscape by capturing nearly 7.5% of the national vote in its debut 2009 election.

Final years and legacy

In recent years, Lekota's health had become a point of public concern. He had courageously battled prostate cancer and eventually stepped back from the frontlines of active politics in 2025 to focus on his recovery, leaving Teboho Loate to lead the party in an interim capacity.

While COPE's electoral influence waned over the last decade due to internal leadership disputes, Lekota remained a steadfast defender of the South African Constitution. He often used his platform in Parliament to challenge the executive branch,famously reminding his former colleagues in the ANC of the principles they had once fought for together.

“I will go to the grave a member of the Congress of the People,” Lekota once remarked, a promise he ultimately kept.

Tributes

Tributes have begun pouring in from across the political spectrum. Colleagues and rivals alike are remembering him as a man of principle who was never afraid to stand alone for what he believed was right. He is survived by his wife, Cynthia, and their four children.