The African National Congress (ANC) on Sunday said it had learned with shock and sadness of the passing of the Johannesburg Mayor Jolidee Matongo.
Matongo was involved in a car crash along the Golden Highway on Saturday on his way from Soweto, where he had been encouraging potential voters to register for the Local Government Elections.
The Soweto-born former student activist died at the age of 46 just over a month after he was elected mayor of Joburg.
The ANC 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).
Matongo led both SOSCO and COSAS at branch and zonal levels. He was a youth activist involved with the ANC Youth League, Orlando West branch.
Matongo served as the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) Regional Secretary. He also served in other capacities before he was elected regional chairperson of the ANCYL in the Greater Johannesburg Region.
He was a member of the ANC Johannesburg Regional Executive Committee..
Matongo was ANC regional head of the department of information and publicity and the regional party spokesperson for about eight years. He was then appointed to the Johannesburg City MMC of Finance by the late Mayor Geoff Makhubo.
Matongo was head of the economic transformation committee before he was elected mayor after Makhubo succumbed to Covid-19.
The ANC said Matongo played a key role in stabilising the governance and systems in Johannesburg to make the city financially sustainable.
“His key focus as the executive mayor was on the accelerated service delivery programme which was underway across the city,” said the ANC.
“Comrade 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.
“To this end, 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.”
