Cllr. Solo Thomas Matwa (affectionately known as Xolile) was born on 16 April 1961 in Bethulie. He completed his schooling at Ethembeni High School. He participated in an executive leadership course with the University of the Free State and attended training in the para-legal field. Matwa became a political activist during 1988 and participated in the structures of the mass democratic movement, including the formation of the Bethulie Youth Congress. In 1989, he became the secretary of the Bethulie Civic Association. He also served as the secretary of the ANC Ntsokolo Rangaza branch from 1990 until 1997. In 1994, he became a member of the ANC Smithfield and Koffiefontein region. He served as a member of the Xhariep Regional Executive and Working Committees from 2006 to 2010.

He was re-elected to these structures during 2010 and continues to serve in both structures to date. Matwa’s involvement in local government has a long history. He was actively involved in negotiations for local government during 1993. In October 1994, he became a councillor of the Bethulie Transitional Local Council. During the period 1994 to 1998, he was the chairperson of the Executive Committee and also served as a member of the Bloem District Council until 1999. Following the 2006 local government elections, he was elected as a ward councillor in Bethulie and on 14 March 2006 he became speaker of the Kopanong Local Municipality. He was elected on 26 May 2009 as the Mayor of the Kopanong Local Municipality whilst serving as a councillor for Ward 3 in Bethulie. Following the 2011 local government elections, he was re-elected as Mayor of Kopanong.