Amos Masondo

Amos Masondo (born 21 April 1953 in Louwsburg) was the mayor of the city of Johannesburg, South Africa, between December 2000 and 2011. He is a member of the African National Congress, and was the first elected mayor of the Unified City of Johannesburg.

Born in Louwsburg and educated in Soweto, Masondo was a participant in the anti-Afrikaans riots in 1972. He also established underground Umkhonto we Sizwe cells in Soweto, and was imprisoned on Robben Island from 1975 to 1981 for his participation in anti-apartheid activities.

After he was released, he served as a member of the Soweto Civic Association, and was again detained under the emergency regulations from June 1985 to March 1986, and again from July 1986 to 1989.

He was also elected as a member of the Gauteng Legislature, and was subsequently elected to serve as Mayor of Johannesburg in 2000.

Masondo was longlisted for the 2008 World Mayor award.