JOHANNESBURG: The Mayor of Johannesburg was killed in a car accident when he returned from campaigning with South African President on Saturday, only more than a month after being elected, his office said in a statement.
Jolidee Matuongo, 46, returned from the travel voter travel at Soweto Township ahead of the local election when the accident occurred.
“It is difficult to understand this tragedy, considering the vitality and desire with Major Mataro interacts with me and Soweto residents for so long before his death,” President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a tweet.
“No one can prepare one of us for this sudden loss, which has seized the economic center of our country from the second executive mayor in two months.” Matusongo’s predecessor died of Covid-19 complications in July, and Matuggo was chosen on 10 August.
Gauteng Province Premier David Makhura, who was also on the Soweto voter registration drive, said the news had left “shocked and destroyed”.
“(Matongo) executed his duties with a cool and calm attitude and remained committed to serving selflessly Johannesburg residents,” he added.
The photos posted on social media by Ramaphosa and Matuggo themselves from the beginning of the afternoon showed to both men walking around Soweto talking to residents, Mataro wore bright yellow sports clothes with the African National Congress logo on it.
Matongo was born in Soweto, according to Johannesburg City website, and became a member of the Anc Youth League after taking student politics at the age of 13.
Matongo’s office said more details about the accident would be released “in time.