‘Jolly good’ Matongo’s death a major setback for ANC in Joburg

As tributes continue to pour in for City of Joburg mayor Jolidee Matongo, who died in a car accident on Saturday night, the ANC is faced with the conundrum of finding a suitable replacement – while in the middle of campaigning towards the local government polls.

Matongo, 46, died after being involved in a car accident in Lenasia, south of Johannesburg, while returning from a voter registration drive in Soweto – alongside President Cyril Ramaphosa and Gauteng premier David Makhura.

Matongo was elected unopposed last month, following the death of his predecessor, Geoff Makhubo.

The extended ANC national executive committee meeting last month resolved at introducing new criteria for selecting mayors, which included that:

• All party mayoral candidates be elected through a nomination and screening process – similar to that employed in the appointment of North West premier Bushy Maape and Matongo.
• The selection to mayoral, regional and provincial positions should follow a nomination of three candidates to be interviewed.
• The vetting process consider experience, skills, qualifications, gender equity, youth participation and diversity.

“It’s a blow for the ANC, given that party leaders should now be concerned about the campaign for local government elections,” said political analyst Ralph Mathekga.

“It’s a setback, considering that he was favoured as a mayor without opposition objecting – meaning they were ready to work with him.”

Matongo’s death has been mourned across party political divide.

Ramaphosa said: “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.”

Describing him as “a selfless, dedicated and competent servant”, the ANC said Matongo’s “long and colourful track record as a public servant speaks for itself”.

“We convey our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and the broader democratic movement,” said party national spokesperson Pule Mabe.

“We hope they will find solace in the knowledge that the whole nation shares in their grief.”

In paying tribute to a leader affectionately referred to as “Chairman Mao”, the ANC Youth League Johannesburg said: “He will be remembered for his ardent love and revolutionary commitment to better the lives of the people he led, particularly young people.”

City of Joburg speaker Nonceba Molwele – among the last to have seen Matongo alive in Soweto – said she was shocked at the news.

“Jolidee was a brother to me; we were together from the morning, preparing for this registration weekend,” said Molwele.

“He was fondly known as ‘Jolly good fellow’ by his comrades and friends, because of his kind nature and great sense of humour.”

Democratic Alliance Joburg mayoral candidate Mpho Phalatse said Matongo was “a kind-hearted individual”.

“While we were both representatives of two opposing political parties, mayor Matongo always treated me with respect as a fellow council colleague,” said Phalatse.

The African Transformation Movement in Johannesburg said Matongo was “always ready to guide young councillors”.