Soweto mourns ‘Terror’ Lekota at Regina Mundi Church memorial

• Steve Aphane, Lekota’s bodyguard since 1995, told the Soweto memorial service that Lekota put his children through school and university.

• President Ramaphosa has given Lekota a Special Official Funeral Category 2, to be held in Bloemfontein with SAPS ceremonial elements.

Mourners packed Regina Mundi Catholic Church in Soweto for the Gauteng memorial service of Mosiuoa “Terror” Lekota, the former Defence Minister and Congress of the People (COPE) leader.

Politicians, religious groups, civil organisations and community members gathered to remember Lekota on Wednesday.

Steve Aphane, who became Lekota’s bodyguard in 1995 after serving as a police officer, spoke about Lekota as a father and friend.

“I was a police officer but was also his child. What a father he was. He put my children through school and university,” said Aphane.

Aphane said he regards Lekota’s children as his own.

“When he fell sick, his children called me. When I visited him, he said, ‘Stevovo, I am going now’,” said Aphane.

City of Johannesburg Executive Mayor Dada Morero honoured Lekota for his role in the liberation movement and for “accepting the difficult task of rebuilding South Africa at the dawn of democracy”.

Morero said Lekota remained a man of conviction who was often outspoken.

“We must bear in mind the freedom he enjoyed was not easy. He also accepted hardship so that future generations can inherit this democracy,” said Morero.

“We honour him for building a non-racial and nonsexist society. May his courage continue to guide us and may we be worthy of the freedom he helped secure,” Morero said.

Lekota died on 4 March 2026 at a Johannesburg hospital. He was 77.

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a Special Official Funeral Category 2 for Lekota in Bloemfontein. The funeral will include ceremonial elements from the South African Police Service (SAPS).

Ramaphosa directed that the national flag be flown at half-mast at all flag stations from 7 March until the evening of the funeral on 14 March.

Pictured above: Mourners at the Gauteng memorial service of former Defence Minister and COPE leader Mosiuoa “Terror” Lekota at Regina Mundi Catholic Church, Soweto.

Image source: Palesa Matlala