George Matjila

George Matjila
ANC Tshwane Regional Secretary
Incumbent
Assumed office
Unknown
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Transport, City of Tshwane
In office
Unknown–2016
President of the ANC Youth League
Incumbent
Assumed office
Unknown
Personal details
BornMaupe George Matjila
1974 (age 51–52) (approximate, based on age 51 in 2025)
Hammanskraal, Stinkwater, South Africa
PartyAfrican National Congress (ANC)
Other political
affiliations
United Democratic Movement (UDM) (2019, election list candidate)
SpouseDr. Pertunia Mathibe (divorced February 2025)
OccupationPolitician

George Matjila is a South African politician and a member of the African National Congress (ANC). He has been part of the Tshwane mayoral committee, where he contributes to local governance. Matjila drew attention in 2016 for allegedly organizing violent protests in Tshwane, a claim he denies. He was expelled from the ANC in 2016 for causing a disruption at a 2014 ANC Youth League regional conference, but he was later reinstated. He continues his political career within the party.

Early life and education

Maupe George Matjila was born in Hammanskraal, Stinkwater, South Africa. He attended Namo Primary School and Diopye Middle School before finishing his studies at Bokamoso High School in 1993.

Political career

Matjila has played an important role in the ANC Tshwane structures . He served as Regional Secretary and previously as Deputy Regional Secretary. He was also a member of the Mayoral Committee for Roads and Transport in the City of Tshwane.

ANC disciplinary issues

In April 2016, the Gauteng Provincial Disciplinary Committee expelled Matjila from the ANC. He was accused of leading the disruption of an ANC Youth League regional conference in Pretoria in 2014. Matjila appealed this decision, and the ANC's National Disciplinary Committee overturned his expulsion in May 2016, allowing him to return to his party roles.

Allegations of involvement in Tshwane protests

In June 2016, Matjila faced accusations of organizing violent protests in Tshwane. These protests followed the ANC's nomination of Thoko Didiza as the mayoral candidate, replacing Kgosientso Ramokgopa. The unrest reportedly caused significant damage and loss of life. Matjila denied the charges, labeling them as "propaganda" from his political opponents within the ANC. He went to the ANC's headquarters at Luthuli House to clarify his alleged involvement but maintained his innocence. He expressed his willingness to cooperate with any investigation.

Other controversies

Matjila has been involved in controversies related to Tshwane's governance. In one case, he reportedly warned Tshwane's finance official, Jacqui Uys, that the ANC would introduce a motion of no confidence against her if she did not reverse plans to tighten multimillion-rand waste collection contracts. Additionally, Matjila has worked to challenge the Democratic Alliance-led administration in Tshwane, calling for the resignation of Mayor Cilliers Brink over service delivery failures.

Personal life

George Matjila, a well-known South African politician and president of the African National Congress Youth League, suffered a deep personal loss with the death of his former partner, Dr. Pertunia Mathibe, commonly known as Dr. Pert, on 30 July 2025. They had divorced in February 2025. Matjila delivered a heartfelt farewell at her funeral on 9 August 2025, at the Lebelo Primary School grounds in Hammanskraal, Tshwane. In his tribute, he referred to Dr. Pert, a famous cosmetic surgeon born in 1985, as a symbol of hope and resilience. She was celebrated for her journey from humble beginnings to becoming a leader in aesthetic medicine. Matjila encouraged young people to find inspiration in her life. He pointed out her warmth, humility, and professional skill, which made a lasting impact on her community, clients, and prominent figures in South Africa. He was accused of using this funeral a campaigning to for the upcoming election.

George Matjila, a prominent figure in the ANC in the Tshwane region, has faced several legal issues, mainly concerning assault and accusations of inciting political unrest.

Allegations of orchestrating violence (2016)

In June 2016, Matjila was accused of being the "mastermind" behind violent protests in Tshwane after the ANC decided to nominate Thoko Didiza as the mayoral candidate, replacing Kgosientso Ramokgopa. Messages circulated on WhatsApp claimed that Matjila coordinated the burning of government and city buildings and other disruptive activities as part of a "NoSputlaNoVote" campaign. Matjila was summoned to the ANC's Luthuli House to defend himself. He denied the charges, describing them as "lies and propaganda" from opponents within the party. He stated that the allegations were part of a campaign to damage his reputation and pointed out that no police action had been taken against him at that time.

ANC disciplinary action (2016)

In April 2016, the ANC provincial disciplinary committee expelled Matjila from the party for allegedly leading disruptions at the ANC Youth League regional conference in 2014. However, Matjila appealed this decision, and the ANC national disciplinary committee reinstated him in May 2016. This situation underscored internal tensions within the ANC, especially regarding Matjila's loyalty to then-mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa.

Assault charge (2025)

In July 2025, Matjila was accused of common assault by Mogomotsi Masilo, a Centurion branch co-ordinator within the ANC. The incident allegedly took place at the ANC offices in Arcadia, Pretoria. Masilo claimed that Matjila slapped him with the back of his hand after a dispute over Matjila referring to ANC members as "boys."

Matjila surrendered to the Sunnyside police station on 30 July 2025, and was released on a warning, with a court appearance scheduled for 21 August 2025. He denied the assault, calling the case a "political stunt" aimed at damaging his reputation before an ANC elective conference. He argued that the allegations were fabricated by rivals within the party to weaken his re-election bid.

In a separate matter, Matjila was arrested in 2016 for assault but was also released on a warning, with that case postponed for further investigation.

References

  1. ↑ "DA exposes R1.8 billion ANC-linked education scandal". TechFinancials. 6 March 2025. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  2. ↑ "DA unfazed by ANC plan to take Monc against Tshwane mayor". Jacaranda FM. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  3. ↑ Kgatle, Mookgo Solomon (24 April 2017). "Item in University of Pretoria Repository". University of Pretoria Repository. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  4. ↑ Kgatle, Mookgo S. "Article from SciELO South Africa". HTS Theological Studies. 73 (3): 1–8. doi:10.4102/hts.v73i3.3845. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  5. ↑ "Fears ANC factional battles could weaken Tshwane". The Citizen. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  6. ↑ "DA Gauteng reports 'fishy' R1.8 billion payment to ANC-connected consultancy to the Public Protector". DA Gauteng. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  7. ↑ "2015 Sustainability Week Report". Issuu. 29 October 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  8. ↑ "Top Tshwane official expelled from ANC". Independent Online. 16 February 1984. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  9. ↑ "ANC threatens to dismiss Tshwane's senior managers over appointment irregularities". Independent Online. 25 June 2025. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  10. ↑ "DA Gauteng reports 'fishy' R18 billion payment to ANC-connected consultancy to the Public Protector". Polity. 6 March 2025. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  11. ↑ "City of Tshwane Consolidated Annual Financial Statements 2015-16" (PDF). MFMA. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  12. ↑ "Case Number 32016: George Matjila" (PDF). African National Congress. 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  13. ↑ "ANC lifts Matjila's expulsion". The Citizen. 3 June 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  14. ↑ "South Africa's Zuma 'sacked finance minister'". BBC News. 10 June 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  15. ↑ "Violence flares in Pretoria over ANC mayoral candidate". The Guardian. 22 June 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  16. ↑ "Is this the man behind Tshwane's chaos?". News24. 26 June 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  17. ↑ "Sacked Tshwane official denies unrest plot". News24. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  18. ↑ "Jacqueline Uys". People's Assembly. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  19. ↑ "ANC Tshwane boss threatened to collapse council during waste tender contract interests saga, police told". Daily Maverick. 22 July 2024. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  20. ↑ "DA dismisses ANC's no-confidence motion against Tshwane mayor". SABC News. 27 April 2024. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  21. ↑ "Cilliers Brink removed as Tshwane mayor". eNCA. 27 April 2024. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  22. ↑ "ANC's George Matjila bids emotional farewell to Dr. Pert". Daily Sun. 9 August 2025. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  23. ↑ "How Nigeria's new currency redesign affects daily life". BBC Pidgin. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  24. ↑ "Dr Pertunia Mathibe remembered: Celeb plastic surgeon honoured at memorial service". News24. 8 August 2025. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  25. ↑ "Tshwane unrest plot laid bare". IOL News. 22 June 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  26. ↑ "Top ANC man is given the boot". TimesLIVE. 12 April 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  27. ↑ "eThekwini Municipality 2016/17 Budget Speech". YouTube. eThekwini Municipality. 25 May 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  28. ↑ "Top Tshwane ANC official accused of slapping colleague". Times Live. 20 July 2025. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  29. ↑ "ANC Tshwane boss George Matjila arrested for assault". Sowetan Live. 30 July 2025. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  30. ↑ "Tshwane ANC's George Matjila denies being arrested despite police confirmation". EWN. 31 July 2025. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  31. ↑ "Violent conduct of Tshwane ANC leaders show they're not fit to govern". Democratic Alliance Gauteng. 25 July 2025. Retrieved 27 April 2024.