South African Anti-Apartheid Veteran Mosiuoa Lekota Dies at 77

South African anti-apartheid activist and veteran politician Mosiuoa Lekota has died at the age of 77.

His political party confirmed that Lekota passed away in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Further details surrounding his death were not immediately disclosed.

Lekota was a prominent figure in South Africa’s struggle against apartheid and played a significant role in shaping the country’s post-apartheid political landscape. A long-time member of the African National Congress (ANC), he later broke away from the ruling party following internal disputes and co-founded the Congress of the People (COPE) in 2008.

Throughout his decades-long political career, Lekota served in several key positions, including as South Africa’s Minister of Defence and as chairperson of the National Council of Provinces. He was widely regarded as a principled leader who remained vocal about governance, accountability, and constitutional democracy even after leaving the ANC.

Born in 1948, Lekota was imprisoned during the apartheid era for his activism and later became one of the influential voices in the country’s democratic transition.

Tributes are expected from across South Africa’s political spectrum as the nation reflects on the life and legacy of a man who dedicated much of his life to the fight for freedom and democratic reform.