Mosiuoa Lekota: Family and friends remember struggle activist

It's a sombre day in Bloemfontein as family and friends of the late Congress of the People (COPE) leader Mosiuoa Lekota gather to pay their respects at his memorial service.

It has been more than a week since Lekota passed away at a hospital in Johannesburg after a prolonged illness.

Cynthia Lekota, the wife of the late COPE leader, slowly walked into the venue for the memorial service with her head bowed in deep sadness.

Surrounding her were her children, who have also expressed that they’ve been struggling to come to terms with their father’s passing.

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Lekota’s niece, Alice Pula, said Lekota sacrificed time with his family to join the fight for the liberation of oppressed South Africans.

"Growing up in the family, some of us did not know Ntate Lekota in person. We only knew him because the family used to talk a lot about him. simply because he was already in jail when some of us were born, especially in my generation."

Some of the known faces at the memorial service include Deputy Health Minister Joe Phaahla, ANC Free State chairperson Mxolisi Dukwana and ANC veteran Tokyo Sexwale.