Gauteng Premier David Makhura says the City of Johannesburg suffered great sadness, having lost two mayors, in a short space of time. He was speaking at the funeral service of late Executive Mayor of Joburg, Jolidee Matongo.
Matongo died in a car accident on his way home after the ANC’s election campaign in Soweto, last weekend.
His predecessor Geoff Makhubo, who served the city from 2019, died of COVID-19 related complications in July this year.
Residents of Johannesburg came together to pay tribute to Matongo. He served in this capacity for just two months.
Matongo has been described by family, friends and colleagues as a man of his word who strongly believed in doing active community work. In a moving tribute, Ethel Thwala said her brother was not just a committed civil servant, but was also a dedicated family man.
“Jolly, what he wanted was the betterment of our people, amen. He was very humble. He was a loving husband, a loving father, a loving brother, a loving friend, and a loving comrade.”
Funeral service of the late executive mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Jolidee Matongo:
Makhura said Matongo was a dedicated leader.
“The loss to this city is too great. On the 14th of July, we bid our final farewell to mayor Geoff Makhubo. We cannot hide the double blow. The ANC has lost one of its finest cadres. The city has lost a leader who just wanted the job to be done. There were no frills about Jolly, no sense of self-importance, no sense of entitlement.”
Former MMC for Finance Matshidiso Mfikoe said Mayor Matongo was a servant of the city who always put citizens first.
Mfikoe says the best way to honour Matongo’s memory is to serve the citizens of Johannesburg with diligence and respect.
“The work that he did with all of us actually improved the image of the city. He came with an energy that said ‘get out of your offices.’ Let us take solace in that we’re given an angel on earth. Can we commit and make sure that people have electricity in his memory? He rests knowing that commitments that he made us commit to are going to be realised. He was a servant of the people.”
Meanwhile, ANC Treasurer-General Paul Mashatile says the late Executive Mayor was faithful in his duties for the City of Johannesburg until his last day.
He says the ANC has lost a determined leader.
“It deeply pains us that today we are speaking of him in our past tense. Even in our deepest pain; even as our hearts are heavy, we consider ourselves privileged. With comrade Jolidee, we were in the company of a rare jewel. He was a genuine friend and a comrade, a dependable colleague and activist to the core, a servant to the people, a patriot to the end, and a well-rounded revolutionary.”
Mayor Matongo is survived by his mother, wife and two children.
Jolidee Matongo funeral I Colleagues, comrades reflect on his legacy:
