In February 2026, News24 dropped a bombshell: Imogen Mashazi, then the City Manager of Ekurhuleni, had flown on a chartered private jet to London in July 2022 for a three‑day “shopping frolic”. The bill? A cool R3.5 million – more than her annual salary of R3.1 million at the time.
But the real story isn’t just the lavish spend. It’s the wall of silence around who actually paid for the trip.
Mashazi has repeatedly insisted that no municipal funds were used. But she has equally refused to name the “individuals who invited her” or the “people who footed the bill”. Calls for transparency have been met with accusations of “harassment”, threats of legal action against journalists, and even claims that the question is a “private spousal matter”.
Today, nearly four years after the trip, the identity of the mystery benefactor remains unknown – though a major exposé from the Sunday Times is reportedly imminent.
The Trip: Luxury at 40,000 Feet
The July 2022 trip was no budget getaway.
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Aircraft: A chartered Gulfstream G650 (often used by heads of state and billionaires)
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Duration: 3 days in London
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Purpose: According to Mashazi, a “private social/personal trip” – not official or work‑related
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Accommodation: The 5‑star Corinthia Hotel, where rooms run from R15,000 to R95,000 per night
The full cost breakdown (as reported by News24):
| Item | Cost (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Jet charter | R2.5 million |
| Fuel | R113,000 |
| Crew | R80,000 |
| Cabin crew sustainment | R25,000 |
| Catering | R17,000 |
| Passenger taxes | R40,000 |
| Parking fees | R45,000 |
| Total | R2.82 million + extras |
| Plus luxury hotel, shopping, ground transport | ~R3.5 million overall |
Who went along?
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Ian Mashazi (her husband)
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Dineo Seletswane (pharmacist / businesswoman)
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Dr Tebogo Maleka (ophthalmologist)
All three travel companions have also refused to say who paid for their seats.
