Hawks Boss Under Fire for Leaking SAPS Officers’ Personal Info to ‘Cat’ Matlala

Key Takeaways:

• KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Major General Lesetja Senona allegedly shared a police docket with organised crime accused Vusimusi "Cat" Matlala, containing sensitive information about SAPS and Crime Intelligence officials.
• Senona claimed he was unaware of Matlala’s involvement in the R2.3-billion Tembisa Hospital scandal, despite being a senior police officer.
• The commission questioned Senona’s explanation for sending the police docket to Matlala, suggesting it may have been a breach of trust and protocol.
• Senona also faced criticism for his involvement in Matlala’s litigation against the SAPS after the termination of his R360-million Medicare24 contract.
• The commission expressed concerns about Senona’s relationship with Matlala and his potential complicity in organised crime activities.

Introduction to the Madlanga Commission
The Madlanga Commission, established to investigate allegations of corruption and misconduct within the South African Police Service (SAPS), has heard shocking evidence that implicates KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Major General Lesetja Senona in a web of deceit and potential complicity with organised crime. On Wednesday, 28 January, the commission revealed that Senona allegedly shared a police docket with Vusimusi "Cat" Matlala, an accused organised crime figure, containing sensitive information about SAPS and Crime Intelligence officials. This revelation has raised serious concerns about Senona’s integrity and his ability to uphold the law.

The Nangy Docket
The issue of the Nangy docket stems from a News24 article that cited a confidential police report allegedly linking a consultant to the alleged kidnapping kingpin, Esmael Nangy. However, the affidavit and its annexures were not embedded in the article, and the commission questioned Senona on why he sent the SAPS docket on the matter to Matlala. Senona claimed that he sent the docket to "sensitise" Matlala to the fact that an alleged kidnapper was living in his estate. However, the commission was not convinced by this explanation, and evidence leader Adila Hassim SC pointed out that the purpose of a top-secret security clearance was to determine whether an individual was trustworthy enough to be entrusted with highly sensitive, classified information.

Tembisa Hospital Ignorance
Another contentious issue arose over Senona’s explanation concerning the murder of whistleblower Babita Deokaran, whose killing followed her exposure of corrupt practices at Tembisa Hospital. The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has revealed a sprawling network of corruption, maladministration, and procurement fraud at Tembisa Hospital, involving three major syndicates responsible for looting more than R2-billion in public funds. Senona claimed that he was aware only that Deokaran had been murdered and that the perpetrators had been sentenced, but he was never aware that Matlala, with whom he was in close contact, featured in allegations linked to the Tembisa Hospital looting. However, the commission found this explanation difficult to accept, noting that the Tembisa Hospital looting scandal was nationally reported.

Conflict of Interest
The commission also raised concerns about Senona’s involvement in Matlala’s litigation against the SAPS after the termination of his R360-million Medicare24 contract. Senona sent a letter to Matlala from National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola that terminated the contract, citing abuse of supply chain management. When Matlala responded that his lawyer had advised him to institute legal action, Senona allegedly replied: "Take them on, brother." The commission viewed this as a serious indictment, noting that it reflected a senior police officer encouraging an alleged criminal associate to sue another organ of state. This incident has raised questions about Senona’s impartiality and his potential conflict of interest in the matter.

Conclusion and Implications
The allegations against Senona have serious implications for the integrity of the SAPS and the rule of law in South Africa. The commission’s findings have raised concerns about the potential complicity of senior police officers in organised crime activities and the need for greater accountability and transparency within the police service. As the commission continues its investigation, it is likely that more shocking evidence will emerge, highlighting the need for urgent reform and action to address the systemic issues that have led to this crisis. The people of South Africa deserve a police service that is accountable, transparent, and committed to upholding the law, and it is the responsibility of the government and the SAPS to ensure that this is achieved.