Johannesburg Mayor Jolidee Matongo has died.
Matongo who was only elected a month ago died in car accident on Saturday, according to local media.
According to the City of Johannesburg, the accident took place in Lenasia. He had been comin from Soweto where he had been encouraging voters to register ahead of November Local Government Elections. The drive had been attended by President Cyril Ramaphosa and Gauteng Premier David Makhura. At the time of the accident, he was with his two VIP protectors. Both sustained injuries.
The Soweto-born seasoned politician grew up in the streets of Dube where at the tender age of 13 he took up student politics in the historic township and subsequently became a member of the African National Congress (ANC) Youth League wherein he was elected its Regional Chairperson.
Mayor Matongo served as a member of the Johannesburg ANC Regional Executive Committee for 18 years. During this time, he became Head of Media and Communications of the region where he was also elected the Region Spokesperson for two consecutive terms.
Having formally joined the public service more than a decade ago, mayor Matongo was first appointed an Operations Manager in the Housing Department of the City.
He later became the City’s Deputy Director of Youth Development – a function that prompted the municipality to prioritise programmes that were directed particularly at youth inclusion and empowerment. He went on to become a Councillor in the Johannesburg Council ahead of his appointment as a Strategic Adviser.
Matongo took over the position after the death of Geoff Makhubo from Covid-19.
Updated to include parts of the statement from the City of Johannesburg
with information joburg.co.za
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