Politically connected businessman Ze Nxumalo has come forward with details about a controversial private flight he arranged through Onyx Aviation at a cost of R3.35 million.The jet was ultimately used by former Ekurhuleni city manager Imogen Mashazi, her husband, and two friends for a trip to London.Nxumalo explained that he was initially approached by businessman Ntokozo Xaba to secure a better quote for the flight.He acted as a broker, obtaining a quote from Onyx Aviation for the Falcon EX jet and charging XET Solutions R5.75 million VAT inclusive.After paying Onyx their fee, Nxumalo kept the difference as commission.According to Nxumalo, he only discovered after the payment that Mashazi and her party had used the flight instead of Xaba.He mentioned that Xaba later became a direct client of Onyx Aviation.Company records show Xaba was briefly a director of XET Solutions in early 2026, though his connection to the firm in 2022 remains unclear.Neither Xaba nor Mashazi responded to requests for comment.

This revelation forms part of broader questions around politically exposed individuals and the use of private aviation in South Africa, raising concerns about transparency in dealings between business figures and public officials.

The story highlights ongoing scrutiny of potential conflicts of interest in government and business circles, especially in municipalities like Ekurhuleni.