Mosiuoa Lekota

The Honourable Mosiuoa Gerard Patrick Lekota MP
Founder of the Congress of the People
President of the Congress of the People
Incumbent
Assumed office 16 December 2008
Deputy	Mbhazima Shilowa Lynda Odendaal William Mothipa Madisha
Preceded by	post created
Minister of Defence
In office 26 June 1999 – 25 September 2008
President	Thabo Mbeki
Preceded by	Joe Modise
Succeeded by	Charles Nqakula
1st Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces
In office 6 February 1997 – 21 June 1999
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Naledi Pandor
1st Premier of the Free State
In office 7 May 1994 – 18 December 1996
Succeeded by	Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri
Personal details
Born	Mosiuoa Gerard Patrick Lekota (1948-08-13) 13 August 1948 (age 75) Kroonstad, Union of South Africa
Political party	Congress of the People (2008–present)
Other political affiliations	African National Congress (1999–2008)
Spouse	Cynthia Lekota
Children	4
Occupation	Politician Anti-apartheid activist
Nickname	Terror Lekota

Mosiuoa Gerard Patrick Lekota (born 13 August 1948) is a South African anti-Apartheid revolutionary for the African National Congress (ANC) who served jail time with Nelson Mandela from 1985 and who left the ANC to form the Congress of the People (Cope) splinter party in 2008. He has served as its President since 16 December 2008.^[1]

Previously as a member of the African National Congress, under President Thabo Mbeki, he served in the Cabinet of South Africa as Minister of Defence from 17 June 1999 to 25 September 2008. His nickname Terror Lekota comes from his playing style on the soccer field. He was a leader of the United Democratic Front and a key defendant in the Delmas Treason Trial, 1985 to 1988.^[2]