Faizel Patel – 12/08/2021
Jolidee Matongo says he is not fazed by criticism following his appointment as the new mayor of Johannesburg.
Matongo whose family are residents of Lenasia South was on Tuesday elected unopposed as the new mayor of the city.
He is the City’s third mayor since the local government elections in 2016, with his predecessors DA member Herman Mashaba resigning and the death of Geoff Makhubo last month from Covid-19 related complications.
Matongo says he used a huge task as the new mayor and wants to hit the ground running and making the city a better place for residents.
Matongo says he is not worried about the trending hashtag on Twitter #WeRejectMayorOfJHB or remarks that his father was a Zimbabwean.
“It doesn’t make me have sleepless nights because I know that I’m a South African, I was born in Baragwaneth Hospital in 1974. I’ve lived my whole life in Soweto but now I’m a resident of Lenasia. I’ve never been to Zimbabwe but the truth of the matter is that my father is from Zimbabwe, came to South Africa, Johannesburg in particular to seek opportunities like many others do.”
Matongo says he has a plan of action to inspire confidence in the residents of Joburg under his administration.
“We know there’s problems. It’s not like we’re starting a new thing, the problems are there for all of us to see. The plans are there to respond to the problems, the budget has been allocated. Ours is to be on the ground 24/7 to solve the problems.”
Matongo says his top priorities will be stabilizing the finances of the city, job creation, the acceleration of basic service delivery to residents and the illegal occupation of land among other problems.
Listen to the interview with Jolidee Matongo
0 Comments