Johannesburg’s Mayor Jolidee Matongo Is Dead

New Mayor of Johannesburg, the main city in Gauteng and the economic hub of South Africa, Jolidee Matongo is dead. 

Gatekeepers News reports that Matongo died in a car accident, on Saturday evening, hours after participating in an African National Congress (ANC) electioneering programme with President Cyril Ramaphosa. He was aged 46.

It was gathered that Matongo’s vehicle collided with a van while trying to avoid a pedestrian who had run onto the road. The pedestrian and the other vehicle’s driver also died, while Matongo’s two bodyguards sustained injuries and are being treated in hospital.

Matongo became mayor on 10 August after his predecessor, Geoff Makhubo died of COVID-19 complications.

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, while reacting to Matongo’s demise, 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.”

Also, the premier of South Africa’s Gauteng province, David Makhura, said he was shattered by the mayor’s demise.

“He served as a councillor for many years before being elected as the mayor of Johannesburg,” Makhura’s office added in a statement.

Johannesburg is the main city in Gauteng, the economic hub of South Africa.

Former Johannesburg mayor and opposition ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba said he and Mr Matongo had had sharp political differences, but he would always “cherish” their “special relationship”.