‘Matongo was ready to reclaim the city from thugs’ - ANC in Joburg

Matongo died in a car crash on the Golden Highway near Soweto on Saturday evening.

He had spent the better part of the day on the ground, campaigning for the African National Congress during the voter registration weekend.

He joined the ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa on the campaign trail before the tragic news broke later in the evening. 

The party’s Johannesburg caucus commemorated Matongo’s life at a memorial service on Tuesday afternoon. 

Several friends and colleagues attested to his commitment to good governance and efficient service delivery after he was elected mayor in an uncontested race over a month ago. 

Mongameli Mnyameni said Matongo had big plans to return the city to its vibrant status.

“Immediately when he was sworn in, unopposed, he went straight into the inner city at night with the MMCs to work to Mae it a point that the city is being reclaimed, the city that is being hijacked by the thugs to go back to being the city of gold that we all know.”

Makgoba Pagadi joined in the chorus of praise.

“Comrade Jolidee Matongo was a lovely, jolly, good fellow. 

“Jolidee was a very good negotiator. Jolidee didn’t have factions because Jolidee was able to be very political, all issues that Jolidee Matongo was addressing, was representing all of us,” Pagadi said. 

“Comrade Jolidee took us through the issue of service delivery and he was very sharp in addressing those issues.”

The 46-year-old was also remembered as a man of principle by longtime friend Loyiso Masuku.

“The news of the passing of comrade Joli really shocked us. He wasn’t just a mayor, he was one of us,” Masuku said. 

Matongo will be laid to rest on Friday. 

Matongo’s shocking death comes soon after the passing of his predecessor Geoff Makhubo who succumbed to Covid-19 related complications in July.  

Watch Loyiso Masuku share memories of Matongo:

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