Mosiuoa Lekota

Mosiuoa Lekota is a South African politician and the founder and president of the Congress of the People (COPE), a position he has held since the party's establishment in 2008. He is a South African national who has been a prominent figure in the country's political landscape for several decades. Lekota rose to prominence during the anti-apartheid struggle, serving as a student leader and later spending time on Robben Island as a political prisoner alongside Nelson Mandela. After South Africa's transition to democracy in 1994, he joined the African National Congress (ANC) government and held several senior positions, including premier of the Free State province from 1994 to 1996 and Minister of Defence from 1999 to 2008. His political career took a significant turn when he broke away from the ANC in 2008, citing concerns over the direction of the party under Jacob Zuma's leadership. He founded COPE as an alternative political home for disaffected ANC members and voters seeking a centrist, democratic alternative. Under his leadership, COPE initially attracted significant support but has since struggled to maintain electoral momentum in subsequent national and provincial elections. Lekota remains active in South African politics, frequently commenting on governance, constitutional matters and the state of democracy in the country. He is known for his outspoken criticism of corruption and his commitment to constitutional principles. His political journey from anti-apartheid activist to ANC minister to opposition leader reflects the complex evolution of South African politics in the post-apartheid era.