Lesetja Senona
Major-General Lesetja Senona is the KwaZulu-Natal provincial head of the DPCI (Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, known as “the Hawks”). His testimony at the Madlanga Commission on 27 January 2026 drew national attention and EFF calls for his arrest. Key admissions included forwarding Police Minister Senzo Mchunu’s PKTT disbandment letter to Vusimuzi Matlala on 2 January 2025, and describing Matlala — who faces attempted murder and fraud charges — as “a brother,” while noting that Matlala is a business partner of his son.
Matlala relationship: Senona described Matlala as “a brother” at the Madlanga Commission. He admitted maintaining social contact with Matlala even after becoming aware of serious allegations against him in March 2025. Matlala is a business partner of Senona’s son. Senona admitted accompanying Matlala to a meeting with KZN Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi in KwaZulu-Natal on 15 April 2025.
PKTT letter: Senona admitted that on 2 January 2025 — the day after the PKTT was officially disbanded — he forwarded Police Minister Mchunu’s disbandment letter directly to Matlala, claiming he did so “out of interest.” He simultaneously claimed to have been “not aware of any investigation against Matlala by the PKTT” — despite being the KZN Hawks head responsible for oversight of such investigations.
WhatsApp evidence: Crime Intelligence testimony (Khumalo) at the commission produced WhatsApp exchanges that placed Senona’s name in Matlala’s communications, including discussions about the PKTT disbandment involving Mchunu. The Big Five cartel Wikipedia article notes: “One WhatsApp exchange even involved Lesetja Senona and police minister Senzo Mchunu regarding disbanding the PKTT.”
Admissions and denials: Admitted advising Matlala to seek legal counsel after the R360m SAPS tender was cancelled. Denied leaking classified information or benefiting Matlala or the Big Five cartel: “The big five that I know are an elephant, a lion, a buffalo, a rhino and a leopard. That is the big five that I know.”
Counter-allegation: Alleged that KZN Commissioner Mkhwanazi had offered to halt investigations into Matlala in exchange for information about deputy police commissioner Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya.
EFF response (30 January 2026): EFF called for Senona’s arrest, describing his testimony as “riddled with contradictions” — particularly claiming not to have read documents he forwarded, and to have been unaware of PKTT investigations into a man he describes as his son’s business partner and “brother.”
Hawks operational failures: In the context of the commission’s broader hearings: 541 kilograms of cocaine worth R200 million disappeared from a Hawks storage facility in Port Shepstone in November 2021 under Senona’s provincial command; witnesses also testified that a Hawks helicopter was used to thwart the arrest of cartel hitman Katiso “KT” Molefe.
Connections
- Vusimuzi Matlala — described as “brother”; son’s business partner; forwarded PKTT letter to him; accompanied him to meet Mkhwanazi
- Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) — forwarded disbandment letter to Matlala on day 1 of disbandment
- Big Five cartel — alleged to have benefited cartel through leaking information and PKTT letter disclosure
- Madlanga Commission — testified January 27, 2026; central subject of commission’s justice-cluster infiltration investigation
- Senzo Mchunu — communications with Mchunu regarding PKTT evidenced by WhatsApp records