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The South African Communist Party (SACP) conveys its message of condolences to the family of Mosiuoa Patrick Lekota, the founding member and president of the Congress of the People (COPE) political party.

The SACP also conveys its condolences to his party as well as the people of South Africa for the loss.

Affectionately known as “Terror” among his comrades, Lekota played an important role in the struggle against the apartheid system. His background in the Black Conscious movement developed his political understanding of the inherent racist character of the apartheid system and thus understood the need for the people of South Africa to fight for a non-racial, non-sexist, and democratic society.

He served as leader in the South African Students Organisation(SASO) while at university. With increased protests by SASO, the university expelled him in 1972, following which SASO named him its permanent organiser in 1974. The apartheid regime arrested and imprisoned him in the notorious Robben Island where he joined senior leaders of the African National Congress and the SACP who were already serving long sentences for their crucial role in the liberation struggle.

Lekota also played an important role in the United Democratic Front from 1983, following his release from Robben Island prison in 1982. Following our 1994 democratic breakthrough, he went on to serve in various roles in government, including as premier of the Free State Province and defence minister.

The SACP acknowledges Lekota’s significant role in the liberation struggle as well as contributing to the rebuilding of our country from 1994, and calls for the unity of the working class in deepening the national democratic revolution towards total social emancipation. For its part, the SACP remains committed to building a popular left front to deepen the working-class struggle against capitalist oppression and laying the foundation for socialism.

Issued by South African Communist Party