South Africa's Lekota, who led breakaway from ANC, dies at 77
Published on March 4, 2026.
Former South African Defence Minister, Mosiuoa Lekota, has died at the age of 77. He led a breakaway from the African National Congress (ANC) to form a political party and served as South Africa's defence minister from 1999 to 2008. Lekata was a close ally of former President Thabo Mbeki and was voted off the ANC's National Executive Committee after criticism of Mbeki's successor, Jacob Zuma. He co-founded the Congress of the People (COPE) party in 2008 and its vote share has been below 1% at every national election since.
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