Major General Lesetja Senona, head of KwaZulu-Natal Hawks, faced intense questioning at the Madlanga Commission for allegedly sharing a police docket with sensitive details of fellow officers to organised crime suspect Vusimusi 'Cat' Matlala. The testimony revealed concerns over Senona's close ties to Matlala, including encouragement to sue the South African Police Service. Commissioners expressed doubt over Senona's explanations for his actions.
On 28 January 2026, the Madlanga Commission heard testimony from Major General Lesetja Senona, the KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head, who holds top-secret clearance. Evidence leader Adila Hassim SC grilled Senona over his decision to share a South African Police Service (SAPS) docket with Vusimusi 'Cat' Matlala, an accused in organised crime cases, following a meeting at the Menlyn Maine Hotel in Pretoria on 5 March 2025.
The docket related to a civil claim by alleged Mozambican kidnapper Esmael Nangy and included identity numbers, cellphone numbers, and photos of six KwaZulu-Natal Hawks members—Senona's subordinates—and provincial Crime Intelligence officers. Senona explained that he sent the document to 'sensitise' Matlala, as Nangy lived in the same residential complex, after reading a News24 article on the matter. He claimed it was an oversight not to review the full contents before forwarding.
Commissioner Sesi Baloyi SC criticised the action sharply, stating: '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.'
Further scrutiny focused on Senona's relationship with Matlala, whom he called a 'younger brother.' Senona denied knowledge 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. He also admitted arranging a 15 April 2025 meeting between Matlala and KZN police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
Concerns arose over a 13 May 2025 WhatsApp exchange after SAPS terminated Matlala's R360-million Medicare24 contract. Senona called it 'sad news' and, when Matlala mentioned suing, replied: 'Take them on, brother.'
In additional testimony, Senona said he did not open documents Matlala sent him containing three ID numbers allegedly belonging to President Cyril Ramaphosa, claiming he would have reported them if aware of the contents. He is set to return for further cross-examination.
