​For two hours, a stretch of the Golden Highway was cordoned off yesterday, with motorists directed to alternative routes as the City of Johannesburg honoured the late Executive Mayor, Cllr Jolidee Matongo, with a wreath-laying ceremony near the site of the car crash, where he lost his life last weekend.

The wreath-laying ceremony took place at Golden Highway, Lenasia South. The road was closed from 10h00 to 12h00 on the R554 and R557 to accommodate the ceremony.

There was a somber mood on the stretch of road along the Golden Highway as remnants of the car accident were scattered on the ground where the wreaths were to be laid by City officials.

The ceremony was attended by the late Mayor’s family, friends, former members of his mayoral committee, Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD and the City of Johannesburg officials.

The Speaker of Council in the City of Johannesburg, Cllr Nonceba Molwele laid the first wreath. She said: “It is difficult to understand as I was here on Saturday and witnessed the lifeless body of our Mayor.”

Wreaths were also laid by the bereaved Cllr Matongo’s wife, mother and 13-year-old son as well as other family members, officials and colleagues.

Cllr Molwele said the City of Johannesburg has suffered a significant loss and appreciates the drive and passion that the mayor had for making Joburg great.

“Mayor Matongo has left his mark and impacted our City although he only served in the position for just over a month. We again would like to emphasise that the death of Mayor Matongo has deeply affected the City of Johannesburg and would like to express our deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the late Executive Mayor Jolidee Matongo,” said Cllr Molwele.

Written by Sascha-Lee Joseph
23/09/2021