Tribute to a political stalwart

AT A PERSONAL level, struggle stalwart and Congress of the People (Cope) founding president Mosiuoa Gerard Patrick Lekota, who died yesterday morning at the age of 77, was a father figure to his comrades.

- BONGANI HANS

COPE leader Terror Lekota died at the age of 77 in Johannesburg yesterday. | MASI LOSI

(MASI LOSI)

Cope acting president Teboho Loate said the former ANC national chairperson and Defense Minister, who was born on August 13, 1948 in Kroonstad in Free State, was a family man who loved his wife Cynthia and their six children.

He got the name 'Terror' from his soccer playing days.

Lekota was first premier of the Free State province from 1994 until 1996. He was also the ANC chairperson from 1997 to 1999.

"I spent many moments with him and his family and I became a member of his family.

"When I spent those moments of friendship with him, it was quite interesting, he was full of jokes and you would get an opportunity to learn more about his views regarding politics.

"He loved his family and he was more like a father to me," said Loate.

After former president Jacob Zuma, now the leader of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), had been elected ANC president in 2007, Lekota and former unionist Sam Shilowa left the ANC to form Cope.