Mpho Moerane dies: Johannesburg loses third mayor in one year

Mpho Moerane is the third Johannesburg mayor to die in 10 months.

By / / Viral
mpho moerane

Former mayor of Johannesburg Mpho Moerane, passed away, on Wednesday evening, after spending a week in hospital, his family confirmed.

Mpho Moerane dies: What’s the cause of death?

In a statement, family spokesperson Mike Maile confirmed Moerane was admitted to the Netcare Milpark Hospital on Monday 9 May 2022 following a devastating car accident.

As reported by News24, Maile’s accident occurred on his way home from Alexandra, near Gallo Manor.

“He sadly did not respond positively to the treatment and with heavy hearts and deep sorrow, we confirm that we lost our beloved Mpho this afternoon and his passing has deeply pained us. He was certified dead at 17:54,” Maile noted.

Maile is the third Johannesburg mayor to die in less than a year. He succeeded Jolidee Matongo in October 2021, who had lost his life in a car crash, with only 30 days left in office.

Matongo’s short-lived tenure resulted from the death of Geoff Makhubo, who died in July 2021 of a COVID-19-related illness.

Moerane was a true Johannesburg native, born in Alexandra, the place he last visited before his death.

As a qualified electrical engineer, Moerane put his technical skills to use with a permanent position at Eskom, which expired in 2006. He sought greener pastures in the restaurant business for more than a decade before he was elected as the interim mayor of Johannesburg in 2021.

Moerane is survived by his wife Fikile and their four children.

Funeral and memorial service details have not yet been issued.

Here are some of the reactions to Moerane’s untimely death: