South Africa Buries Anti-Apartheid Veteran Lekota

Mourners from across South Africa's political and community landscape gathered in Bloemfontein on Saturday for the funeral of veteran anti-apartheid activist and politician Mosiuoa "Terror" Lekota, who died on March 4, 2026, at the age of 77 in a Johannesburg hospital after a year-long battle with ill health. The service, held at the Old Grey Sports Ground and designated a Special Official Funeral Category 2, featured ceremonial honors from the South African Police Service and drew former presidents Thabo Mbeki and Kgalema Motlanthe, along with Deputy President Paul Mashatile, who delivered the eulogy on behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Lekota's passing prompted national mourning, with flags flown at half-mast nationwide from March 7 until the conclusion of the funeral. The proceedings began with a mass on Friday at St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church in the Bochabela area of Bloemfontein, where family, friends, and supporters sang hymns as his coffin was brought in for a short prayer service. His remains spent the night at the family home before the main ceremony, a sequence described by Acting Congress of the People (COPE) President Teboho Loate as a fitting tribute to...