Major General Lesetja Senona, head of KwaZulu-Natal Hawks, faced intense questioning at the Madlanga Commission for allegedly sharing sensitive personal details of SAPS officers with organised crime accused Vusimusi 'Cat' Matlala. The incident involved a police docket linked to a civil claim against the South African Police Service. Senona's actions raised serious concerns about his top-secret clearance and ties to Matlala.
On 28 January 2026, during the second day of his testimony at the Madlanga Commission, KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Major General Lesetja Senona was grilled over allegations that he shared a SAPS docket with Vusimusi 'Cat' Matlala, an accused in organised crime. The docket, related to a civil claim by alleged Mozambican kidnapper Esmael Nangy against the South African Police Service, contained identity numbers, cellphone numbers, and identity photos of six KwaZulu-Natal Hawks members and Crime Intelligence officials—Senona's subordinates. Despite holding top-secret clearance, Senona allegedly sent the docket to Matlala on the evening of 5 March 2025, following a meeting at the Menlyn Maine Hotel in Pretoria. Senona explained that he aimed to 'sensitise' Matlala, who lived in the same complex as Nangy, about the potential threat, but evidence leader Adila Hassim SC questioned why he shared the full docket instead of just a News24 article on the matter. Commissioner Sesi Baloyi SC remarked, 'You share personal information, you are a police officer. You make it appear this is all benign and it is nothing. I find it very difficult to accept that there is an innocent explanation for sharing this bundle with Matlala. It is more sinister than you [are] prepared to share with us.' Senona conceded it might have been an oversight not to read the entire document before sending it. The commission also probed Senona's close relationship with Matlala, whom he called a 'younger brother.' Senona claimed ignorance of Matlala's alleged involvement in the R2.3-billion Tembisa Hospital corruption scandal, despite national coverage and the 2021 murder of whistleblower Babita Deokaran, who exposed the looting. Additionally, after the termination of Matlala's R360-million Medicare24 contract with SAPS on 13 May 2025, Senona encouraged him via WhatsApp to 'Take them on, brother' in pursuing litigation. He also shared a news article suggesting KZN police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi was not applying for Hawks head. Earlier, on 15 April 2025, Senona allegedly arranged a meeting between Matlala and Mkhwanazi. These revelations highlight potential conflicts of interest within senior police ranks.
