Former President Thabo Mbeki has learnt with great sadness news of the passing away of former junior flyweight champion, Jacob "Baby Jake" Matlala. He described Matlala as one of South Africa’s sporting heroes who will be sorely missed.

“’Baby Jake" was one of our heroes and ambassadors who flew the country’s flag high. On this sad occasion, we should pay tribute to him and say ‘thank you for representing us and making us proud as a people.”’