It was a sad day once again for the African National Congress as they conducted a wreath laying ceremony of the late Johannesburg mayor, Jolidee Matongo on the Golden Highway South of Johannesburg.

Colleagues, friends and family members went to pay their respect to the late Johannesburg mayor Jolidee Matongo who lost his life as a result of a car accident last week Saturday on the golden highway after he had spent his day campaigning for the ANC.
 

 

 

 

 

Gauteng provincial legislature speaker Nonceba Mhauli said the late mayor Jolidee Matongo was a selfless public servant and that his death is highly sad.

“It is sad that the city having lost mayor Geoff Makhubo, I think it is about forty days or so we lost another executive mayor. The city is mourning and we have declared this week, a week of mourning,” she said.

Matongo left behind his wife and two children a boy and a girl who were also at the wreath laying ceremony on behalf of the family.

Jolidee Matongo was described as a worthy contender for the job he held at the time of his untimely death. Even though it was only a few weeks after his appointment as Johannesburg mayor following the death of Geoff Makhubo, he did not display any arrogance.

It is revealed that he had already set a tone of collaborative governance that places the people of Johannesburg City first.

Democratic Alliance mayoral candidate, Dr Mpho Phalatse said Jolidee Matongo was a very friendly person who understood that political difference doesn’t mean people should become enemies.

“Our friendship started in council when I was MMC for health and social development, and he was ANC spokesperson for the Johannesburg region. Naturally, we would butt heads in debates and had to face each other in council as political rivals, but his sense of humour made those post-debate interactions easy and pleasurable.

This is what political engagement must be like – an understanding that being contestants to power does not make us enemies. Jolidee understood this,” she said.