Madlanga Commission heard that Crime Intel. Head, Feroz Khan, knew about the fully funded former Ekurhuleni City Manager Dr Imogen Mashazi by businessman Ze Nxumalo.
Image: IOL Graphics
The Madlanga Commission heard that suspended deputy crime intelligence boss Maj-Gen Feroz Khan knew every detail of a luxury London trip allegedly bankrolled by businessman Ze Nxumalo for former Ekurhuleni city manager Imogen Mashazi and her companions, for R3.5 million.
Presenting evidence before the commission on Monday, advocate Adila Hassim said businessman Mohammed "Mo" Sayed had sent Khan details of the lavish trip, indicating that he knew about the travel arrangements.
The commission heard that in July 2022, Mashazi, then serving as Ekurhuleni city manager, travelled to London for a three-day shopping weekend with her husband and two friends aboard a privately chartered aircraft.
Evidence before the commission includes an invoice showing that the charter flight, valued at about R3.5 million, was paid for by Nxumalo through one of his companies, ZIG Revenue Management.
Hassim told the commission there was, at this stage, no evidence explaining what Nxumalo received in return for financing the costly trip.
However, she argued that the extraordinary value of the payment raises serious questions about its purpose and whether any benefit was expected.
"A payment of R3.5 million for a weekend flight is so far outside ordinary hospitality or a gift that it invites the inference that the person who paid for it expected something in return," Hassim said.
This is the invoice for former Ekurhuleni City Manager, Imogen Mashazi,’s trip to London which was paid by Businessman Ze Nxumalo in 2022.
Image: Madlanga Commission
She told the commission the central question is whether the trip amounted to a gift or gratification and, if so, whether Nxumalo expected influence, protection or privileged access to Mashazi in her role as Ekurhuleni's city manager.
Hassim also revealed that Mashazi did not declare the trip to the municipality, a failure she described as deeply troubling given the scale and value of the travel.
"If it was not declared, then the failure to disclose a trip like this — this is not an ordinary trip, this is not just an economy flight with your family — the failure to disclose itself would be a matter of grave concern," she said.
She added that accepting or being associated with such an exceptionally valuable private benefit without transparency would raise significant concerns about accountability within a public institution.
The commission continues to examine the circumstances surrounding the London trip, including Khan's knowledge of the arrangements and the relationship between those involved.
Meanwhile, Adv. Matthew Chaskalson SC has joined Hassim in leading further evidence relating to Khan before the commission.
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