City of Joburg Mayor Dada Morero has paid heartfelt tributes to COPE leader, Mosiuoa "Terror" Lekota, who passed away last week.
Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers
Scores of mourners, including political leaders and activists from various sectors of society, converged at the Regina Mundi Catholic Church in Soweto on Wednesday to pay their last respects to the revered founder of the Congress of the People (COPE), Mosiuoa "Terror" Lekota.
The atmosphere was filled with reflections of Lekota's immense contribution to South Africa's struggle for freedom, with heartfelt tributes from prominent figures that echoed through the memorial service assembly.
Johannesburg Mayor, Dada Morero, highlighted Lekota's unwavering commitment to the country's liberation journey.
"He remained a man of clear conviction and was often outspoken," Morero stated. "We must bear in mind that the freedom we enjoy today was not easy. He accepted hardship so that future generations could inherit democracy. We honour him for building a non-racial and non-sexist society."
Ahead of the service, ANC NEC member and former minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, remembered Lekota as a robust member of Parliament who never shied away from confronting issues head-on, no matter how uncomfortable they may seem.
"He will be missed for his contribution and his stubborn resistance, and for the establishment of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP). He will also be remembered for boldly creating a party that contested his own political home, the ANC. In Parliament, he was robust and frank. He participated consistently and was not afraid to challenge," she said.
Scores of mourners have celebrated the contribution made by COPE co-founder, Mosiuoa "Terror" Lekota.
Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers
COPE's premier candidate for Gauteng, Tom Mofokeng, celebrated the founder of his political home for his bravery, saying prison did not deter him from his gallant fight for the emancipation of the people of South Africa.
"He endured prison and exile and was even harassed. However, his sense of duty never escaped him. Those who know him know that he spoke plainly and did not hide behind language or political convenience. Even when he believed something was right, he said so, and when he believed something was wrong, he said so, and people knew where he stood," Mofokeng said.
Last week, as news of his death swelled, the party he co-founded following the ANC's Polokwane elective conference in 2007 confirmed that its leader died at the age of 77 after a brief period of illness.
The Free State-born leader made his early political inroads as a leading organiser of the South African Students’ Organisation (SASO), before he was detained and sent to Robben Island, where he joined the ranks of political prisoners who would later shape the country’s democratic future.
Following his death, he was honoured with a Special Official Funeral Category 2 by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
A second memorial service for Lekota will be held in Bloemfontein on Thursday, ahead of his funeral, which is scheduled to take place in the Free State capital on Saturday, March 14.
For the head of the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac), Lisa Seftel, who worked with Lekota within the United Democratic Front (UDF) structures, Lekota's contribution to grassroots politics and mobilisation was equal to none.
"His ability to bring people together, and his confidence that every day will bring us closer together. Terror's time in the UDF was short, yet his impact was profound. He served as an office bearer until his detention," she added.