ANC picks MMC Jolidee Matongo for Joburg Mayor

The stakes are high on Tuesday morning, 10 August 2021, at the City of Johannesburg ‘s new council chamber where we will see the election of the new Executive Mayor for the country’s economic hub. The African National Congress (ANC) in Johannesburg has nominated its MMC for Finance Jolidee Matongo for the covered post.

The mayoral chair been vacant for a month, following the death of Geoff Makhubo, who succumbed to COVID—9-related complications.

Who is Jolidee Matongo?

Jolidee Matongo has served as a member of the Johannesburg ANC’s regional executive committee for 18 years. During this period, he became head of media and communications, and was also elected as regional spokesperson for two consecutive terms.

The ANC has 124 seats in the council and will need an additional 12 votes from other parties for it to install its mayoral choice. The IFP, the UDM, Cope, the African Independent Congress and Al Jama-ah are expected to support the ANC in electing Matongo.

The ANC in Gauteng’s Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) met last week to discuss the candidates for the coveted post and three people have since been endorsed: Matongo, MMC for environment, infrastructure and services, Mpho Moerane, and chair of chairpersons in the City of Joburg, Salphina Mulaudzi.

Other individuals whose names were put forward but did not make the cut were MMC for group corporate and shared services Loyiso Masuku and ANC deputy regional chair and MMC for health Eunice Mgcini.

Proceedings to elect the City of Joburg’s Executive Mayor will get underway at exactly 10:00 and will be livestreamed.

“The Speaker of the Council Cllr Nonceba Molwele, has called the Extra-Ordinary Meeting in terms of Rule 16 of the Standing Rules and Orders of Council. The process to elect the new Executive Mayor will be in accordance with the Schedule 3 of the Municipal Structures Act,” spokesperson Sipho Masigo said.

“The meeting with be held face-to-face in the new Council Chamber, various Metro centre and Joburg Theatre Boardrooms in Braamfontein, this is in line with the Adjusted Level 3 regulations to allow for social distancing”