The funeral was attended by former Presidents Thabo Mbeki, in whose cabinet Lekota served between 1999 and 2008 when he resigned to protest Mbeki’s recall, and Kgalema Motlanthe, who succeeded Mbeki, National Assembly speaker Thoko Didiza, and National Council of Provinces Chairperson Refilwe Mtsweni Tsipane, who occupies a role Lekota held between 1997 and 1999.