South Africa's long-serving former defence minister and former Robben Island prisoner dies

BBC News - WorldEN 2 min read 100% complete March 4, 2026 at 11:55 AM

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Mosiuoa Lekota, South Africa's former defense minister and anti-apartheid activist, has died at the age of 77 after an illness. Lekota was imprisoned on Robben Island alongside Nelson Mandela for his role in fighting apartheid. After South Africa's transition to democracy in 1994, he served as the first premier of the Free State province and later as defense minister for a decade. He was also the chairperson of the ANC for a decade. In 2008, he left the ANC, citing corruption allegations and disillusionment with the party's governance, and subsequently formed the Congress of the People (Cope). President Cyril Ramaphosa has hailed Lekota as a "patriot and freedom fighter."

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Free State 30% Thabo Mbeki 40% Nelson Mandela 50% Cyril Ramaphosa ×260% Congress of the People (COPE) ×260% Robben Island ×270% African National Congress (ANC) ×480% South Africa ×690% Mosiuoa Lekota ×595%

Keywords

mosiuoa lekota 100% south africa 90% defence minister 80% anti-apartheid 80% robben island 70% african national congress 70% freedom fighter 60% corruption 60% congress of the people 50% nelson mandela 40%

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BBC News - World

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mosiuoa lekota south africa defence minister anti-apartheid robben island african national congress freedom fighter corruption congress of the people nelson mandela

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