Legacy of a Lion: Ramaphosa and Parliament pay tribute to Mosiuoa 'Terror' Lekota

Written by Lindsay Dentlinger and Alpha Ramushwana

President Cyril Ramaphosa has affirmed that he will always remember Mosiuoa Lekota’s contribution to the liberation struggle, despite the deep political differences that defined their later years.

The leader of the Congress of the People (COPE) passed away early this morning at the age of 77 following a prolonged illness.

While the two leaders were close at the beginning of their political careers, their relationship deteriorated significantly in the early 1970s.

For many years, Lekota accused Ramaphosa of "selling him out" and standing by while he was detained on Robben Island.

Despite this history, President Ramaphosa maintains that Lekota was a man of great integrity.

"Terror Lekota and I have a long history of political activism. We met at university and we were both expelled for our political activism. We met again when we were both involved in the ANC, and he became a minister in our government."

Ramaphosa noted that while their paths diverged, his respect for the late leader remained intact.

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"Due to political differences that are common in political life, he went off and formed his own organisation, and I continued to have deep respect for him. He was a committed South African, and he loved his country as much as we served from different benches."

Parliament has also paid extensive tribute to Lekota, who served as the first Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP).

Presiding officers saluted him as a principled leader who championed dialogue, democratic debate, and constitutional governance.

Affectionately known as "Terror" in parliamentary corridors, Lekota held the inaugural NCOP chair between 1997 and 1999, entering the role after serving as the first Premier of the Free State.

Key Milestones in Lekota’s Career:

1994–1996: First Premier of the Free State.

1997–1999: Inaugural Chairperson of the NCOP.

1999–2008: Minister of Defence.

2008: Formed COPE after resigning from the ANC.

Parliamentary spokesperson Moloto Mothapo highlighted Lekota's foundational work in the legislature.

"His leadership contributed to laying the foundations for the NCOP as a forum where national legislation is scrutinised through the lens of provincial priorities and where cooperative governance is advanced," Mothapo said.

After nearly a decade in the Executive as Minister of Defence, Lekota broke away from the ANC to form COPE. The party saw initial success, winning 30 seats in the 2009 general elections.

However, the party’s influence waned over time due to internal infighting. Following the 2024 elections, the party failed to secure a return to the National Assembly.

Lekota is remembered today not for the recent decline of his party, but for a lifetime spent in the service of South Africa’s democratic evolution.