Just days after the burial of former Congress of the People (COPE) leader Mosiuoa “Terror” Lekota, a legal battle has already emerged over the assets of the late veteran politician.
According to reports by the Mail & Guardian, Lekota’s wife, Cynthia Lekota, brought an application for curatorship to place his affairs under protective oversight.
The proceedings were then challenged by fellow COPE member Luzelle Adams, who argued that she has a direct interest in the estate. Adams claims that she shared a property with the late politician and that they have a child together.
Adams previously served as a Member of Parliament for the Congress of the People (COPE) between 2009 and 2014.
During court proceedings, it was reported that about R400,000 had been withdrawn from Lekota’s bank account, while a safe at his property was allegedly found open and empty.
The withdrawal reportedly occurred on the same day his son, Kotane Lekota, was appointed interim curator of the estate.
Kotane Lekota was appointed interim curator on 12 February 2026, authorising him to take control of his father’s property and bank accounts, manage investments, and oversee the family’s financial affairs.
Meanwhile, many of the estate’s primary assets are reportedly held in the Mosiuoa Lekota Family Trust.
The appointment followed a ruling by Judge Millar, who found that Lekota had been of unsound mind and mentally incapacitated from May 2025 until his death on 4 March 2026. Medical reports presented in court cited severe cerebrovascular disease and significant cognitive impairment.
While Cynthia Lekota remains the legally married spouse of the late politician, Luzelle Adams is asserting that her alleged personal and financial ties to Lekota — including claims that they shared a property and have a child together — give her grounds to challenge aspects of the estate proceedings in court.
The matter is expected to continue unfolding in court as the dispute over the late COPE leader’s assets intensifies.