KwaZulu-Natal Hawks boss Maj-GenLesetja Senonaon Wednesday admitted he maintained a close relationship with attempted murder accused Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala despite knowing he was under investigation for alleged corruption. The day before, Senona had told the Madlanga commission he had gradually cut ties with Matlala soon after he knew he was under investigation. He said he remained Matlala’s friend unaware he had been investigated by police and only became aware Matlala had been probed for the attempted murder of Tebogo Thobejane during a meeting with KwaZulu-Natal commissioner Lt-GenNhlanhla Mkhwanazion April 15 2025, a month before his arrest.
The Madlanga commission is investigating allegations of corruption in the criminal justice system. Witnesses have fingered Senona as one of the tainted bosses in earlier testimonies. Returning to the witness box on Wednesday, Senona was questioned about WhatsApp chats between him and Matlala on March 5 2025.
On that day, Senona sent Matlala a News24 article highlighting companies linked to Matlala which were among 200 entities flagged by slain state officialBabita Deokaranin a suspected multimillion-rand tender corruption at Tembisa Hospital in Gauteng. The almost R3bn spent by the department of health on the irregular contracts remains under investigation by the Special Investigating Unit. During cross-examination, Senona admitted he had read the article on the investigation by the SIU and Hawks into Matlala.
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He had told the commission a day earlier that he did not know Matlala was under investigation. “General it is not true you did not know about these other allegations against Mr Matlala,” evidence leader advocate Adila Hassim said, adding that Senona admitting to reading the article in March 2025 meant he did not tell the commission the truth. Senona responded: “I must admit this, now I recall.
It is important that sometimes you [are] made to recall certain things, but if you recall you must assist the commission. “That is why when you look at my affidavit, I said this thing, I became too wary [of] the relationship. We [Matlala and Senona] had serious engagement.”
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