Breaking News: Top SA Leader & Politician Dead

Congress of the People (COPE) founder Mosiuoa Lekota has died at the age of 77.

Lekota had been battling ill-health and was in and out of hospital over the past year.

The former Member of Parliament will be laid to rest in his home town in Bloemfontein.

Mosiuoa Gerard Patrick Lekota was a South African anti-Apartheid revolutionary for the African National Congress who served jail time with Nelson Mandela from 1985 and who left the ANC to form the Congress of the People splinter party in 2008.

He has served as its President since 16 December 2008.

This is a developing story. More details to follow.