By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@VeliNhlapho.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has paid tribute to Johannesburg Mayor, Jolidee Matongo,who died in a car crash on Saturday evening.
Two more people involved in the accident have since died.
Matongo had earlier on Saturday accompanied Ramaphosa in Soweto,to campaign for the ANC ahead of this year’s municipal elections.
Late on Saturday night,Ramaphosa said in a statement that the accident happened after the campaigning.
Ramaphosa said: “It is hard to comprehend this tragedy, given the vitality and passion with which Mayor Matongo interacted with me and residents of Soweto so shortly before his death.
“Nothing could prepare any of us for this sudden loss, which has deprived our nation’s economic centre of its second Executive Mayor in two months.
“Matongo has been taken from us at a time when he was totally immersed in improving conditions and creating opportunities for all the people of Johannesburg and stakeholders in the metropolitan economy. Like all of us, he was looking forward to the forthcoming election, and we saw in person today that he had put his heart and soul into mobilising the people of the city to make their voices heard on 1 November.”
Matongo had been elected unopposed as Joburg mayor, succeeding Geoff Makhubo, who died in July of Covid-19 complications.
He served as the MMC for Finance under Makhubo.
He had risen through the ranks, from serving as a member of the Soweto Student Congress and the Congress of South African Students before moving on to serve as the regional head of communications in the ANC for eight years.
He had also served as the chief of staff responsible for the overall running and functioning of the offices of the Gauteng MEC for the sport and economic development and agriculture departments.
Meanwhile ANC Joburg regional secretary Dada Morero said his party had learned with shock and sadness the news of the passing of the mayor, who also served as a regional executive committee member of the ANC.
“Comrade Jolidee Matongo’s passing is a great loss to the movement, and society at large. We are forever grateful for his selfless contribution to the freedom of the people of South Africa and the enhancement of service delivery within the City of Johannesburg,” Morero said.
He said the ANC conveys its heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, the City of Johannesburg and the entire liberation movement.
“We wish them strength and fortitude during this difficult time,” Morero said.
DA mayoral candidate for Johannesburg, Mpho Phalatse said that the DA caucus in the City council is terribly saddened by Matongo’s tragic passing.
“While we were both representatives of two opposing political parties, Mayor Matongo always treated me with respect as a fellow council colleague, and even during his short tenure as mayor, was willing to take my calls on matters of critical service delivery issues.
“During committee meetings in council, Matongo was always willing to co-operate across party lines and listen to colleagues with different views,” Phalatse said.
Matongo started his activism at the age of 13 at Orlando West High School, where he joined the Soweto Students Congress (SOSCO) and Congress of South African Students (COSAS).
He led both SASCO and COSAS at the branch and zonal levels.
Matongo survived by his mother,wife and a son.
Fullview would like to convey its sincere condolences to the Matongo family and everyone affected by his tragic passing.