Newly-elected Johannesburg Mayor dies in car accident

Newly elected Mayor of Johannesburg, Jolidee Matongo has died in a automotive accident which occurred on Saturday September 18.

 

The 46-year-old politician who was elected a month in the past, was coming back from campaigning with South Africa’s president for voter registration in Soweto township forward of native elections, when the accident occurred.

Native media reported that his automobile collided with a van whereas attempting to keep away from a pedestrian who had run on to the highway. The pedestrian and the opposite automobile’s driver additionally died, however Mr Matongo’s two bodyguards are being treated in hospital for his or her accidents.

Commenting on his dying, President Cyril Ramaphosa stated;

“It’s laborious to understand this tragedy, given the vitality and fervour with which Mayor Matongo interacted with me and residents of Soweto so shortly earlier than his dying.

“Nothing may put together any of us for this sudden loss, which has disadvantaged our nation’s financial centre of its second Government Mayor in two months.”

Mr Matongo who turned a mayor on 10 August following the dying of his predecessor from COVID-19 issues, is the son of a Zimbabwean migrant and has been a political activist in South Africa for the reason that age of 13, campaigning towards apartheid – a legalised system of racism that was in place on the time.

He was a member of the governing African Nationwide Congress (ANC), and was anticipated to be on the forefront of the social gathering’s marketing campaign to win Johannesburg – South Africa’s industrial capital – in native authorities elections due on 1 November.