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SA: The unravelling of “uMama”: When the makeup, lipstick came off

SA: The unravelling of “uMama”: When the makeup, lipstick came off

SHE arrived like a woman prepared for her close-up. Red lipstick: applied. Hair: coiffed to perfection. Nails: immaculate. Confidence: overflowing. Dr Imogen Mashazi, the former municipal manager of Ekurhuleni - affectionately known as "uMama" (Mother) in her glory days - took her seat at the Madlanga Commission with all the poise of someone who'd never heard the word "accountability" before. For context, the Madlanga Commission, established by South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, has spent 40 days wading through the cesspool that various witnesses have lovingly nicknamed the "Den of Criminals" (previously known as the City of Ekurhuleni). And now it…
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The iron lady’s iron grip: The rise and fall of Ekurhuleni’s “Mother of corruption”

The iron lady’s iron grip: The rise and fall of Ekurhuleni’s “Mother of corruption”

They called her "uMama" -  Mother. How touching. How appropriate. After all, what is motherhood if not nurturing, protecting, and ensuring your children thrive? And thrive they did under Dr Imogen Mashazi's watchful eye, particularly one Julius Mkhwanazi, who loved his "mother" so much he publicly declared at a 2023 Christmas party: "I will take a bullet for you." One wonders: was that bullet meant for investigators, whistleblowers, or merely the truth? On July 17, 2025, at the luxurious Radisson Hotel & Convention Centre in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni's first female city manager celebrated her 65th birthday and retirement with hugs,…
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