The South African government has announced that the late Congress of the People (COPE) founder Mosiuoa Lekota will be honoured with a Category 2 Special Official Funeral.
Flags across the country have been flying at half mast in honour of the veteran politician. The flags will remain lowered for seven days until his burial on 14 March in Bloemfontein.
Lekota, who also served as Free State Premier and later as South Africa’s Minister of Defence, passed away earlier this week.
Plans are now underway for several memorial events ahead of the funeral.
COPE Acting Chairperson Ndade Ndeghezi confirmed that two memorial services will be held next week to allow South Africans to pay their respects.
The first memorial service will take place on Tuesday in Pimville, Soweto in Johannesburg, where Lekota was involved in community mobilisation work.
A second memorial service will then be held in Bloemfontein on Thursday, giving residents of the Free State an opportunity to honour the former premier.
A church service will follow on Friday, reflecting Lekota’s strong connection to the Roman Catholic Church, before the funeral takes place on Saturday, 14 March in Bloemfontein.
Ndeghezi said the memorial services are expected to include contributions from several political traditions and organisations that formed part of Lekota’s long political journey.
Throughout his political career, Lekota was involved in several major movements including the Black Consciousness Movement, the United Democratic Front (UDF), the African National Congress (ANC), and later the Congress of the People (COPE).
Political leaders and members of the public have continued to pay tribute to Lekota, describing him as a nation builder and unifier who played an important role in South Africa’s democratic transition.
Lekota made history in 1994 when he became the first Premier of the Free State following South Africa’s first democratic elections. He later served in national government and became Minister of Defence.
As preparations continue for next week’s memorial services and funeral, tributes from across the political spectrum continue to highlight his legacy in South African politics.