Acting Congress of the People (COPE) President, Teboho Loate has called for a renewed political landscape for the betterment of all South Africans.
Loate shared this sentiment as the African National Congress’ (ANC) Provincial Working Committee and the Free State Government visited the home of the late COPE leader, Mosiuoa Lekota. Lekota was also the first Premier of the Free State.
According to Loate, this can be a beautiful way to pay respect to Lekota, who believed in a united objective for the betterment of all.
WATCH | SABC News Political Editor Mzwandile Mbeje shares some history about the political career of the late COPE leader Mosiuoa Lekota. pic.twitter.com/QfsPY9VDVv
— SABC News (@SABCNews) March 4, 2026
WATCH | ANC NEC Member Lindiwe Sisulu described the late COPE leader Mosiuoa Lekota as very passionate and committed to his work, noting that he represented the liberation party in Parliament with distinction. pic.twitter.com/uexa5ef74c
— SABC News (@SABCNews) March 4, 2026
Loate reiterated the call on the progressive left, to work together to help reset South Africa’s political landscape. This as various organisations continue to visit the home of the late struggle stalwart, who passed last week.
The ANC’s Provincial Workers Committee (PWC) and the provincial government, under the leadership of the Free State Premier, paid homage to Lekota and shared in the grief with the family.
ANC Free State chairperson Mxolisi Dukwana paid tribute to struggle stalwart and hailed the COPE leader as the man who remained a pillar and kept the party’s dignity intact.
“For us, he remains the pillar that held the ANC and gave the ANC the dignity it enjoyed over a period of time. So, we felt that we should be coming not only as a party but also as people that worked with him but also as people who stayed with him in the province and who know him, not that we know him better but at least we had an opportunity of sharing many experiences with him,” says Dukwana.
Later their political views differed with Lekota deviated from the ANC, in 2008. Lekota’s former comrades and collegues thanked Lekota for the played he played in the establishment of the provincial governmen.
Free State Premier, Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae reiterated that Lekota ruled with an iron fist.
“What he believed in was that, if one had to convince him, you would have to carry a document all the time. In a situation where he was asked to account, that’s where we had difficulty with Ntate Lekota. I knew from all the meetings that he would even turn that meeting into his own and say, “You can’t commit to account. You owe the Free State; I’m accountable to the people of the Free State.” He was that kind of character,” says Letsoha-Mathae.
Loate used the opportunity to call on the ANC and others to carry Lekota’s baton forward.
“My view is that it all depends on who calls themselves the progressive left. This may be a legacy left by the Teleport. They must then start to think about how to reset politics so far. As things look, the differences should not make us enemies. We must have a common objective: to allow South Africans to taste the fruits of democracy. That is primary to what we need to be doing.”
Lekota’s home has been a hive of activity, as preparations are in full swing for the burial of the political stalwart.
Two memorial services will be held, one in Johannesburg on Wednesday and the other, on Thursday in Bloemfontein, before he is laid to rest, on Saturday.
Two memorial services will be held for the late Congress of the People (COPE) leader Mosiuoa Lekota this week.
— SABC News (@SABCNews) March 8, 2026
RELATED VIDEO | Lekota’s first memorial service set for Wednesday at the Regina Mundi Catholic Church
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