AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER
THE ANC has unveiled week-long programme to send off Jolidee Matongo, the Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, whose death in a car accident at the weekend has shocked residents of the city and South Africans.
A series of memorial services have been arranged, culminating with his funeral service, which is scheduled to take place on Friday in Soweto. The first memorial service takes place on Tuesday at the Dube Methodist Church in Soweto. On the same day, a series of ANC zonal memorial services are scheduled to take place across the city that Matongo led as the No 1 citizen.
On Wednesday, a memorial service is scheduled for the Uncle Toms Hall in Soweto. Attendance to the service will be restricted because of COVID-19 protocols but special arrangements have been made for people to log on and attend the services virtually.
The ANC and many political parties have paid tribute to Matongo, who died hours after he spent time with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa campaigning for the forthcoming local government elections.
Matongo, who was driving with two bodyguards at the time of the accident, had been in office for just over a month. According to the Office of the Mayor, the accident took place in Lenasia, south of Johannesburg. The office said the bodyguards sustained injuries.
Matongo had been in the office since August 10 after he succeeded Geoff Makhubu, who succumbed to COVID-19.
President Ramaphosa paid a warm tribute to Matongo: “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.
“Mayor 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. The time we spent together has been rendered a priceless treasure given his untimely and traumatic passing. May his soul rest in peace.”
Gauteng Premier David Makhura also paid tribute to Matongo.
“I spent more time with the mayor in the past week starting on Thursday, as we joined the police on operation O Kae Molao. We went on to engage with communities in Soweto, emphasising the importance of vaccinating as we continue to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Mayor Matongo’s passing has left me shocked and shattered. I send my heartfelt condolences to Mrs Matongo and children, his extended family, friends and comrades,” Premier Makhura concluded
Matongo was born in Orlando, Soweto and served in the ANC regional leadership for over 18 years. He was elected unopposed as the Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, Africa’s economic capital, on August 10.
Many Johannesburg residents took to social media to express their condolences to Matongo and to praise him for his achievements during his short stint as mayor.
