Death of Johannesburg executive mayor Jolidee Matongo 'a great loss to the nation', says eThekwini mayor

The mayor of eThekwini Municipality Mxolisi Kaunda has conveyed his condolences to the family of Johannesburg executive mayor Jolidee Matongo who died in a car crash on Saturday.

Executive mayor and councillorJolidee Matongo, speaks after he was sworn-in at the Joburg Theatre. Picture: Itumeleng English African News Agency (ANA) File

Published Sep 19, 2021

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DURBAN - THE mayor of eThekwini Municipality Mxolisi Kaunda has conveyed his condolences to the family of Johannesburg executive mayor Jolidee Matongo.

The 46-year-old Soweto born mayor died on Saturday in a car crash. He had been campaigning along with President Cyril Ramaphosa in Soweto for the upcoming local government elections earlier in the day.

Kaunda expressed his shock after hearing of the death of Matongo.

“We are devastated by this shocking news. We had an arrangement to meet and share our ideas and experiences on how to enhance service delivery and better implement ANC policies where we are deployed by the movement. Our heartfelt condolences to the Matongo family, friends, the community of Johannesburg, councillors, the ANC and the entire nation,” he said.

Kaunda said Matongo’s death was a great loss not only to the people of Johannesburg, but to the nation.

“Mayor Matongo was a humble, educated, dedicated, disciplined and selfless cadre of our movement. May his revolutionary soul rest in eternal peace. May his wife and children find comfort in the fact that he left behind a legacy that we are proud of,” said Kaunda.

The IFP in Gauteng said it was devastated to learn of the tragic passing of Matongo.

‘The IFP extends its deepest condolences to mayor Matongo's family, friends, colleagues, and all his comrades in the ANC, during this difficult period,” said IFP Gauteng provincial chairperson Bonginkosi Dhlamini.

Matongo was elected mayor in August. Prior to that he served as a Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Finance in the CoJ, under the leadership of the late mayor Geoff Makhubo.

Matongo had an illustrious career in public service. Before his appointment as MMC for Finance, he previously served as chief of staff in Gauteng's Department of Economic Development and worked as deputy director of Youth Development in CoJ, he said.

“Mayor Matongo served with a fervent spirit and the utmost dedication to the citizens of Johannesburg. His loss is felt not only by members of his family and his political organisation, but the rest of the citizens of Gauteng. May his soul rest in perfect peace and his contribution to society outlive him. Lala ngoxolo qhawe,” said Dhlamini.

THE MERCURY