Lekota to be Honoured with Special Official Funeral

COPE leader Mosiuoa Gerard Patrick Lekota.

By Mpho Dube, Editor-in-Chief, The Azanian

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President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared a Special Official Funeral Category 2 to honour the late former Minister of Defence and leader of the Congress of the People (COPE), Mosiuoa Gerard Patrick Lekota, who passed away on March 4, 2026, at the age of 77.

In a statement, President Ramaphosa paid tribute to Lekota as "a patriot, freedom fighter, and servant of the people whose life story is closely intertwined with our journey of struggle and the realisation of democracy."

Lekota's contributions to South Africa's struggle for freedom and his service as Premier of the Free State and Minister of Defence were highlighted by the President, who emphasized his "principled dedication to non-racialism during our struggle and in a liberated South Africa."

The Special Official Funeral Category 2 will take place in Bloemfontein on March 14, 2026, with ceremonial elements provided by the South African Police Service.

The National Flag will be flown at half-mast from March 7 to March 14, 2026, as a mark of respect.

Lekota's legacy as a freedom fighter and statesman will be remembered, and his funeral is expected to be a significant event in South African politics.