FAMOUS for uttering words such aswill ‘eat a hat’, ‘Ramaphosa a sell-out, sold me to the police’ to being suspended for lack of energy to lead the party, ‘Terror’ lived his life.
Mosioua ‘Terror’ Lekota, who passed-on this morning due to ill-health proved politics are not for ‘sissies’.
He famously broke away from the party that moulded him- African National Congress (ANC) to form COPE (in 2008) with other disgruntled members such as former Gauteng Premier Mbazima Shilowa, a former security guard at The Star newspaper, who grew within the ranks and file of the ANC.
In 2009, with only 7% won of the vote in the first national election, COPE was not coping, since its contested election vote fell below 1% at every national elections.
Subsequently, he was fired for lacking energy for leading the party.
A water-mouth if you may, once told members of his party he will ‘eat a hat’, one of his famous quotations, during a scuffle that broke out amongst his party members at a media brief.
During his tenure as Member of Parliament, he told the country ‘Ramaphosa is a sell-out, sold me to the police’.
As a South African anti-apartheid activist in 1970s, he was appointed Defence Minister, due to his close ally of former President Thabo Mbeki from 1999 to 2008.
Nicknamed “Terror” for his fearsome skills on the soccer pitch as a young man from the Free State province, quit in protest at Mbeki’s ousting and was voted off the ANC’s National Executive Committee after repeated criticism of Mbeki’s successor, Jacob Zuma, who became the President.
He served jail time on Robben Island with former President Dr Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.
At the time of his death, ‘Terror’ was 77.
President Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa described him as a steadfast politician.
Tebogo Loate, COPE leader said he ‘was a visionary and will be missed’.
Image provided (In full voice. The late Mosioua ‘Terror’ Lekota, addressing Parliamentarians).
