Key Takeaways
- Major-General Lesetja Senona denies allegations of assisting alleged crime kingpin Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala in securing a R360 million SAPS contract
- Senona claims his relationship with Matlala is purely social and denies leaking sensitive police information to him
- He testifies that he had no knowledge of the Medicare 24 tender process and did not receive any kickbacks from Matlala
- Senona describes his interaction with Matlala as casual and brotherly, and denies any involvement in Matlala’s business dealings
- He dismisses Witness X’s evidence as lacking concrete proof of a beneficial relationship between him and Matlala
Introduction to the Allegations
The head of the KwaZulu-Natal Hawks, Major-General Lesetja Senona, has rejected allegations that he assisted alleged crime kingpin Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala in securing a R360 million SAPS contract for the Medicare 24 company. Senona testified before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, dismissing evidence shared by Witness X and Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo, head of crime intelligence, which implicated him in sharing sensitive police information with Matlala. He denied allegations that he facilitated a property deal between Matlala and his son, Thato Senona, stating that his relationship with Matlala was purely social.
Testimony on the Medicare 24 Contract
Regarding the Medicare 24 contract, Senona stated that he had no knowledge of the broader allegations of criminality surrounding the tender. He claimed that his knowledge was limited to the information Matlala had shared with him and what he had read in the media. Senona acknowledged that Medicare 24 was founded by Matlala, but denied allegations that he had assisted Matlala in securing the tender. He explained that high-value tenders, like the one Matlala’s company bid on, are handled by the SAPS national office’s supply management division, under the divisional commissioner of supply chain. Senona denied lacking knowledge of officials involved in the contract or committee members who participated in the tender process.
Denial of Kickbacks and Leaking Sensitive Information
Senona denied receiving any kickbacks from Matlala for securing the tender, stating that he never received any payment directly or indirectly from Matlala. He also denied allegations that he leaked sensitive police information to Matlala, saying that he would never take information that is in the custody of the police and share it with any other person. Senona emphasized that he had signed an oath when he took office, committing to uphold the confidentiality of police information. He testified that he accompanied Matlala to a meeting with Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi on April 15, 2025, at Mkhwanazi’s homestead, but claimed that he was not privy to all that was discussed during the meeting.
Relationship with Matlala and Business Dealings
Senona described his relationship with Matlala as casual and brotherly, stating that they had met at his traditional wedding in Mamelodi, Pretoria, around 2018-2019. He explained that they had exchanged numbers and kept in touch, with Matlala introducing himself as a businessman. Senona revealed that his wife and Matlala share the same surname, but initially declined to comment on whether they were related. He later clarified that he and Matlala are not related, adding that he did not want family drama, mentioning that Matlala had dated a relative of his wife. Senona said he only learned about his son Thato’s business dealings with Matlala when Matlala told him Thato had approached him with a property venture proposal.
Dismissal of Witness X’s Evidence
Senona dismissed Witness X’s evidence, saying that it lacked concrete proof of a beneficial relationship between him and Matlala. He highlighted Witness X’s use of words like "seemingly", "it appears to", and "presumably", arguing that they do not constitute factual evidence. Senona emphasized that he had never taken any information that is in the custody of the police and shared it with Matlala or anyone else. He reiterated that his relationship with Matlala was purely social and that he had not received any kickbacks or benefits from Matlala.
Conclusion and Ongoing Testimony
In conclusion, Major-General Lesetja Senona has denied all allegations of assisting Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala in securing a R360 million SAPS contract and leaking sensitive police information to him. He has testified that his relationship with Matlala is purely social and that he had no knowledge of the Medicare 24 tender process. Senona’s testimony is still ongoing, and it remains to be seen how the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry will proceed with the investigation. As the investigation continues, it is essential to consider the evidence presented and the implications of the allegations made against Senona and Matlala.
