KZN Hawks chief's testimony postponed to January amid serious corruption allegations

The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry will hear testimony from KwaZulu‑Natal Hawks Head Major General Lesetja Senona on January 27, 2026.

Senona was expected to testify on Wednesday; however, he and the commission agreed to postpone his testimony until January to allow him more time to prepare.

He has been implicated in the allegations of a “beneficial relationship” with businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. It has also been alleged that he leaked confidential SAPS documents to Matlala.

The commission will reconvene on Friday due to the unavailability of suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department deputy police chief, Julius Mkhwanazi, who has been accused of facilitating the registration of vehicles belonging to Matlala under the municipality’s name and having them equipped with blue lights.

Matlala appeared before the Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee into SAPS Inquiry on Wednesday, taking place at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Service in Pretoria.

The Madlanga Commission, which started after an hour‑long delay due to a “technical issue”, postponed the proceedings after Senona secured an agreement to defer his testimony until next year.

The allegations against Senona emerged during a remote testimony by Witness X, who presented WhatsApp chats detailing the alleged ties between Senona and Matlala.

Senona is accused of facilitating Matlala’s Medicare24 invoice payments at the SAPS and motivating him to contest the police over the cancelled R360 million SAPS contract. 

The WhatsApp excerpts highlight the coordination between Senona, his son Thato, and Matlala regarding these actions.

Witness X recently told the commission that the bond between Matlala and Senona’s son, Thato, revolved around a property deal. 

In the WhatsApp exchanges presented, Matlala explicitly asked Thato to forward his FICA documents so the purchase could move forward, and Thato complied by sending the personal information as requested. 

Both Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo, head of Crime Intelligence and the Political Killings Task Team, and KwaZulu-Natal SAPS Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi have put Senona’s conduct under the microscope in their commission testimony.

Khumalo’s evidence highlighted alleged payments from Matlala to figures linked to senior officials, painting Senona’s involvement as part of a broader pattern of collusion.

Mkhwanazi publicly accused Senona of feeding Matlala inside information and facilitating a property deal involving Senona’s son, Thato. 

Justice Mbuyisile Madlanga, who apologised to the public for the postponement, said Senona is expected to furnish to the commission on or before January 16, 2026, with a sworn statement addressing the issues listed in the subpoena dated November 13, 2025, for him to appear before the commission.

Evidence leader Advocate Matthew Chaskalson said the commission will, unfortunately, not convene on Thursday as it faces a similar situation where Mkhwanazi was due to appear but has requested further time.

“In view of the range of evidence that he has to traverse and serious evidence, the evidence leader has agreed to accommodate him next week,” he said.

He pointed out that the commission, as part of Phase Two, works with witnesses who are only available by subpoena, meaning if one is delayed, there is no alternate witness ready to fill the slot.

Phase Two allows individuals implicated during evidence given by witnesses in Phase One the chance to present their own version of events.

The commission is probing political interference, corruption, and organised crime links within the criminal justice system.

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za