Johannesburg Mayor Killed in Car Accident (Photo)

Newly elected Johannesburg's mayor Jolidee Matongo died in a car accident at the age of 46, media outlets reported on Saturday.

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News of Matongo’s passing was confirmed by the metro’s spokesperson Mlimandlela Ndamase on Saturday evening.

Matongo had earlier on Saturday accompanied President Cyril Ramaphosa in Soweto, to campaign for the ANC ahead of this year's municipal elections.

Late on Saturday night, Ramaphosa said in a statement that the accident happened after the campaigning.

Ramaphosa said: "It is hard to comprehend this tragedy, given the vitality and passion with which Mayor Matongo interacted with me and residents of Soweto so shortly before his death.

"Nothing could prepare any of us for this sudden loss, which has deprived our nation's economic centre of its second Executive Mayor in two months."

"Matongo has been taken from us at a time when he was totally immersed in improving conditions and creating opportunities for all the people of Johannesburg and stakeholders in the metropolitan economy," the statement added.

"Like all of us, he was looking forward to the forthcoming election, and we saw in person today that he had put his heart and soul into mobilising the people of the city to make their voices heard on 1 November."