Hawks Major-General Lesetja Senona denies withholding information from Madlanga Commission
Major-General Lesetja Senona, the KZN Hawks head, is under fire for his WhatsApp chats with Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala, an alleged crime mastermind.
Image: Oupa Mokoena and Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers
KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Major-General Lesetja Senona, implicated in dubious links with alleged crime mastermind Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala, has dismissed suggestions he was withholding information from the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry to avoid trouble, stating he is already in trouble due to documents presented against him.
On Thursday, Senona during his third day of testimony, faced serious questioning from commissioners about WhatsApp chats with Matlala,.
The chats are central to allegations of improper ties between Senona and Matlala.
Senona was asked about a WhatsApp message received from Matlala on the eve of their meeting with KwaZulu-Natal SAPS commissioner General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi on April 15, 2025.
The meeting, allegedly organised by former Police Minister Bheki Cele, was to discuss Matlala's R360 million medical service contract with SAPS Pretoria College through his company Medicare 24.
Matlala was experiencing difficulties receiving purchase orders and sought Mkhwanazi's assistance, according to Senona's testimony.
A WhatsApp message from Matlala to Senona on April 14 last year, reading "please don't forget to ask our brother about that lady stirring problems", drew scrutiny.
Commissioners pressed Senona to identify the "brother" and "lady" referenced, and explain the nature of the problems she was allegedly causing.
Senona suggested the message likely pertained to Matlala's tender issues, speculating the "lady" might be Lieutenant-General Lineo Nkhuoa, acting Deputy National Commissioner for Human Resource Management.
Senona claimed he could not recall who the "brother" referred to in the message was, saying he was racking his brain to remember.
"I'm trying my level best to think who the brother was... I'm trying to think of ways to assist the commission," he said
Co-commissioner Advocate Sandile Khumalo SC sharply rebuked Senona, saying: “At this moment you are not assisting the commission. And you are leaving me… with the impression that you are evasive. You choose not to answer questions that you fear might get you into trouble.”
In response, Senona said: “I am not evasive. The issue that I am afraid I will be in trouble; I am already in trouble. I indicated to you commissioners that with these documents of the commission I am already in trouble. So, I can't fear to disclose what I recall and be afraid that there will be trouble. I am already in trouble.”
When asked if "the brother" referred to Mkhwanazi, he replied, "No."
He defended his close proximity to Matlala who is an alleged crime kingpin, saying: "Commissioners I hear I am being told about my position (as a police officer). I am going to say this. In terms of my position, if they give me a warrant of arrest and say go and arrest Mr Matlala I will gladly do it without any difficulty. "
Senona explained he sent a screenshot of himself communicating with Crime Intelligent Unit head General Dumisani Khumalo to Matlala by mistake. He claimed the message was meant for a source with information to share with Khumalo, not for Matlala. A third person was to be introduced to Khumalo.
On Monday he testified that his son Thato had business dealings with Matlala and that he only learned about it when Matlala told him Thato had approached him with a property venture proposal.
According to Senona, the business venture between his son and Matlala did not materialise, despite initial progress in 2025, with plans to acquire Pretoria property.
Co-commissioner Advocate Sesi Baloyi SC said it was strange that Matlala did not know Senona had a son, despite referring to him as a "friend and brother".
Baloyi said it is odd Matlala would use Senona as a conduit for business dealings with Thato.
“His business between him and Thato has nothing to do with you…On the face of it it suggests that the business transaction is between you and Mr Matlala and Thato is brought in the middle of it to assist in that he becomes your proxy in that transaction,” she said.
Senona denied he was a conduit between Thato and Matlala, saying his son is the one who approached Matlala.
He said: “I was happy that my son will be happy to make some means for him to support his family. I know what is happening in businesses. Sometimes the business blooms, sometimes it goes down. I was very happy. Once it goes down, as a son he will say 'papa I am asking for money to buy a mealie meal'.”