BREAKING NEWS: Court Orders Lekota’s ‘Side chick’ To Pay Back The Money, After Funds Moved from Lekota’s Account During Illness

Pretoria – The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria has ordered that money transferred from the late COPE founder Mosiuoa “Terror” Lekota’s bank account be returned to his estate, following a finding that he was not of sound mind during the period of the transactions.

Judge Anthony Millar ruled on 23 March 2026 that Lekota was of unsound mind and incapable of managing his own affairs from 25 May 2025 until his death on 4 March 2026. The finding came in a case brought by Lekota’s wife, Cynthia Lekota, who sought curatorship and access to his medical and financial records. 

The court heard that payments totaling about R1.68 million were made from Lekota’s account to his partner, Advocate Luzelle Adams, between April 2024 and February 2026. This included R600 000 described as “joint household payments” between 5 March 2025 and 2 February 2026, and a further R1 084 725 paid between 2 April 2024 and 12 February 2026. On 12 February 2026, after Adams was notified of the court application, an additional R400 000 was transferred – R250 000 to her attorneys and R150 000 to her property company. 

Judge Millar said the timing of the February transfers was “highly suspicious” and that “the inference is irresistible that… Adv Adams emptied Mr Lekota’s bank account, presumably while the parties were negotiating in good faith at court”. The court ordered Adams to repay the funds and referred her conduct to the Legal Practice Council Gauteng and the Johannesburg Society of Advocates for professional investigation. Adams was also ordered to pay legal costs on Scale C.

The ruling does not constitute a criminal conviction for fraud or misappropriation. The court ordered the money be returned to the estate for proper administration, with the funds ultimately benefiting Lekota’s wife, Cynthia. 

Lekota died at 77 on 4 March 2026. He and Cynthia were married in community of property but had lived apart since 2010.