- On Wednesday, 4 March 2026, Xoliswa Zondo, a well-known figure on South African radio, honored Mosiuoa Gerard Patrick Lekota, an anti-Apartheid activist
- The tribute took place on social media, reflecting on the legacy of the 77-year-old leader of Cope
- Many South Africans joined the 5FM host in expressing their respects for Lekota
Xoliswa Zondo, a prominent radio host from 5FM, along with numerous social media users, paid homage to Mosiuoa Lekota, who passed away on March 4, 2026.
The political figure, who served as the leader of the Congress of the People party (COPE), died in a Johannesburg hospital after battling a prolonged illness.
Zondo commemorated Lekota on her X account on the same day of his passing.
“Rest in peace, Ntate Mosiuoa Lekota,” she wrote.
South Africans remember Lekota
@__karjo replied:
“Condolences to the Lekota family and all who worked with him. May he rest in peace.”
@DDT_PM commented:
“Mosiuoa Lekota will be remembered as a liberation veteran who later took the bold step of leaving the ANC to co-found COPE. For a moment in 2009, COPE showed that South African politics could be reshaped by leaders willing to challenge the dominant order.”
@great_lindo shared:
“The man who lifted the curtain and exposed a sellout who collaborated with the apartheid government to send comrades to Robben Island.”
@luyolomkentane offered:
“Thanks for all your struggles and sacrifices to make South Africa a better place for all, Ntate Terror Lekota. May your soul rest in eternal, perfect peace.”
@iammadlamini added:
“Oh, my dad would be so sad, lucky he died first. May his soul rest easy.”
@ndgwah mentioned:
‘May his soul rest in peace. We will never know why Cupcakes said he instilled communist ideas in his head. Why was he not in the list for Robbin Island?”
@tsheole15 remarked:
“Lekota was a good person; he didn’t deserve to die now.”
@CleanPolitics stated:
“It is with sadness that I have learnt of the passing of Mosiuoa Lekota. My sincere condolences to his family and Comrades. His character was shaped by the ANC stalwarts before founding Cope in 2009. – Lynda Odenndaal.”
@Mtho_Sibiya expressed:
“Lekota will always be remembered for exposing that Oppenheimer stooge Cyril Ramaphosa as an Apartheid Spy.”
@Markosonke1 stated:
“Rest easy, Comrade. In 2023, there were already rumours and predictions about your death, with some wishing you were gone. Today, the news has finally arrived. History will judge the legacy, but for now, may he rest in peace.”
@Siboguzzman added:
“Life ends, but the waves he made keep moving. Rest easy, the world will remember the fire you carried.”
@MhlengSah commented:
“I hope he died having forgiven those who wronged him there at ANC because we all know COPE was formed out of anger. RIP to the man.”
Source: Getty Images
