‘Hard to comprehend’ - Tributes pour in for Joburg Mayor Matongo
The newly appointed Mayor of Johannesburg Jolidee Matongo was killed in a car crash on Saturday.
Tributes have been pouring in following the news of Matongo’s tragic passing.
Matongo was on his way home from a voter registration drive in his native Soweto, alongside President Cyril Ramaphosa, when he was involved in a crash.
"President Cyril Ramaphosa is deeply saddened by the tragic death of Matongo," said the Presidency’s Tyrone Seale.
"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.”
Matongo was elected unopposed to the position in early August following the passing of his predecessor, Geoff Makhubo, a month earlier.
Gauteng Premier David Makhura, who also attended the voter registration drive in Soweto, joined the tributes to Matongo.
"He was a committed and selfless activist who dedicated his time to serving the people," says Makhura.
"During his short tenure as the Mayor of Johannesburg, Matongo dedicated his time to the overall improvement of the quality of life of the people of Johannesburg.
"Mayor Matongo executed his duties with a cool and calm demeanour and remained committed to selflessly serving the citizens of Johannesburg.”
