Jolidee Matongo

Matongo was born in Soweto, south of Johannesburg, his father was a Zimbabwean migrant.{{Cite news|last=Mafisa|first=Itumeleng|date=11 August 2021|title=City of Joburg Speaker says new mayor is not a foreign national|work=IOL|url=https://www.iol.co.za/the-star/news/city-of-joburg-speaker-says-new-mayor-is-not-a-foreign-national-7904ee11-267e-4500-b319-e361c9b539ca|access-date=11 August 2021}} He held a diploma in public management, a B-Tech degree in public management from the University of South Africa, and a post-graduate diploma in management from Milpark Education. At the time of his death, he was studying for a master's degree in public management through the Management College of Southern Africa.{{Cite news|date=10 August 2021|title=What you need to know about Joburg's new mayor, Jolidee Matongo|work=The Citizen|url=https://citizen.co.za/politics-2/2586999/ancs-jolidee-matongo-likely-to-be-elected-joburgs-new-mayor-10-aug-2021/|access-date=10 August 2021}} Matongo lived with his family in Lenasia.

Matongo became involved in politics at the age of 13. He was a member of the Soweto Student Congress and the Congress of South African Students (COSAS) before he became the regional head of communications of the African National Congress for eight years. Matongo worked for the City of Johannesburg's housing department before he became deputy director of youth development in the municipality.

Matongo was also chief of staff for multiple Gauteng Members of the Executive Council. In 2011, he was appointed a strategic support advisor in the office of the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Finance. He was a member of the ANC's regional executive committee (REC) in Johannesburg for 18 years where he served as spokesperson.{{Cite web|title=Executive Mayor, Cllr Jolidee Matongo|url=https://www.joburg.org.za/about_/government/Pages/Executive/MMCs/MMC-Finance.aspx|access-date=10 August 2021|website=City of Johannesburg}}

Matongo was appointed MMC for Finance following Geoff Makhubo's election as mayor in December 2019, replacing the Democratic Alliance's Funzela Ngobeni, who was defeated by Makhubo in the race for mayor.{{Cite news|last=Sidimba|first=Loyiso|date=7 December 2019|title=Joburg mayor rewards IFP, AIC, PA, Cope with MMC positions|work=IOL|url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/joburg-mayor-rewards-ifp-aic-pa-cope-with-mmc-positions-38819936|access-date=10 August 2021}} In July 2020, Matongo denied allegations of political motivation for removing members of the city's organisations.{{cite news| url=https://www.iol.co.za/the-star/news/city-of-joburgs-anc-led-administration-denies-firing-top-officials-hired-by-mashaba-50354677| title=City of Joburg's ANC-led administration denies firing top officials hired by Mashaba| work=Independent Online| date=3 July 2020| accessdate=20 September 2021}} In April 2021, he announced a new debt rehabilitation programme for people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and struggling to pay their mortgages.{{cite news| url=https://www.702.co.za/articles/415114/more-relief-city-of-joburg-increases-50-debt-rehabilitation-property-value-cap| title=MORE RELIEF: City of Joburg increases 50% debt-rehabilitation property value cap| work=702.co.za| date=29 April 2021| accessdate=20 September 2021}}{{cite news| url=https://midrandreporter.co.za/284920/ratepayers-have-until-31-july-2021-to-apply-to-be-part-of-the-debt-rehabilitation-programme/| title=Ratepayers have until 31 July 2021 to apply to be part of the debt rehabilitation programme| work=Midrand Reporter| date=26 April 2021| accessdate=20 September 2021}} In May, Matongo promised increased spending on the townships and informal settlements of Ivory Park, Kliptown and Orange Farm,{{cite news| url=https://ewn.co.za/2021/05/25/coj-s-matongo-earmarks-ivory-park-kliptown-and-orange-farm-for-major-upgrades| title=COJ'S MATONGO EARMARKS IVORY PARK, KLIPTOWN AND ORANGE FARM FOR MAJOR UPGRADES| work=Eyewitness News| date=25 May 2021| accessdate=20 September 2021}} and gave 19.9 billion rand to the City Power company for infrastructure improvement.{{cite news| url=https://ewn.co.za/2021/05/25/city-power-granted-r19-9bn-to-address-operational-challenges| title=CITY POWER GRANTED R19.9BN TO ADDRESS OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES| work=Eyewitness News| date=25 May 2021| accessdate=20 September 2021}}

Geoff Makhubo died from COVID-19 complications in July 2021.{{Cite web|title=Johannesburg mayor Geoff Makhubo dies of COVID-19|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/9/johannesburg-mayor-geoff-makhubo-dies-of-covid-19|access-date=2021-09-25|website=www.aljazeera.com|language=en}} On 3 August 2021, Matongo was one of three candidates whose names were submitted to the ANC provincial executive committee and the ANC national executive committee by the ANC's regional executive committee to replace Makhubo as mayor.{{Cite news|last=Lekabe|first=Thapelo|date=3 August 2021|title=Three names in the ANC hat to replace late Makhubo as mayor|work=The Citizen|url=https://citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/politics/2585311/anc-in-joburg-nominates-mayor-3-august-2021/|access-date=10 August 2021}} He was considered the frontrunner.{{Cite news|last=Omarjee|first=Haja|date=3 August 2021|title=Jolidee Matongo emerges as ANC's early favourite in race for Joburg mayor|work=Business Day|url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2021-08-03-jolidee-matongo-emerges-as-ancs-early-favourite-in-race-for-joburg-mayor/|url-access=subscription|access-date=10 August 2021}} On 5 August he was formally endorsed by the ANC's national leadership.{{Cite news|last=Mkentane|first=Loyolo|date=5 August 2021|title=ANC officials and parties endorse Jolidee Matongo as next Joburg mayor|work=Business Day|url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2021-08-05-anc-officials-and-parties-endorse-jolidee-matongo-as-next-joburg-mayor/|access-date=10 August 2021}}

Matongo was elected mayor unopposed on 10 August 2021 as he was the only candidate nominated for the position.{{Cite news|last=Khumalo|first=Junior|date=10 August 2021|title=Jolidee Matongo elected new Johannesburg mayor unopposed|work=News24|url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/just-in-jolidee-matongo-elected-new-johannesburg-mayor-unopposed-20210810|access-date=10 August 2021}}

Matongo was killed in a car accident on 18 September 2021.{{Cite news|date=2021-09-19|title=Johannesburg mayor Jolidee Matongo killed in car crash|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-58614669|access-date=2021-09-24}} He had been travelling on the R553 route (also known as The Golden Highway), and two other people were killed in the crash.{{cite news| url=https://ewn.co.za/2021/09/21/jolidee-matongo-described-as-non-factional-leader-at-memorial-service| title=JOLIDEE MATONGO DESCRIBED AS NON-FACTIONAL LEADER AT MEMORIAL SERVICE| work=Eyewitness News| date=21 September 2021| accessdate=22 September 2021}} He had served as mayor for slightly more than a month. Earlier that day, he had campaigned in Soweto with President Cyril Ramaphosa and Gauteng Premier David Makhura ahead of the municipal elections scheduled for 1 November 2021.{{Cite web|date=18 September 2021|title=BREAKING: Newly-elected Johannesburg Mayor Jolidee Matongo killed in a car accident|url=https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/breaking-newly-elected-johannesburg-mayor-jolidee-matongo-killed-in-a-car-accident/|access-date=18 September 2021|website=SABC News - Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader.|language=en-US}} His funeral was held on 21 September.

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Category:1975 births

Category:2021 deaths

Category:African National Congress politicians

Category:Mayors of Johannesburg

Category:Mayors of places in South Africa

Category:People from Soweto

Category:Politicians from Gauteng

Category:Road incident deaths in South Africa

Category:South African people of Zimbabwean descent