Funds 'taken from Lekota's account'

COURT: PAYMENTS MADE WHILE EX-COPE LEADER ILL

- Molefe Seeletsa

DODGY BUSINESS. A judge finds Luzelle Adams, the partner of Mosioua Lekota, founder of Cope, exercised control over Lekota's joint estate without the knowledge or consent of his wife. Picture: Gallo Images

(Gallo Images)

The High Court in Pretoria has ruled that funds were withdrawn from former Congress of the People (Cope) leader Mosiuoa “Terror” Lekota’s bank account while he was incapacitated by illness.

Lekota died on 4 March at the age of 77 after stepping back from political life due to declining health.

The matter came before court after his wife, Cynthia Lekota, launched an ex parte application seeking access to his medical records, clarity on his mental capacity and the appointment of a court-appointed attorney to oversee his financial affairs.

Although still married in community of property since 1975, Lekota and Cynthia had lived apart since 2010.

They had four children together, including one who died nearly three decades ago.

At the time of his illness, Lekota lived in Midrand, with his partner and former Cope MP advocate Luzelle Adams and their 16-year-old son. Cynthia, meanwhile, lived in Bloemfontein.