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 on corruption charges. 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 was being investigated by police, and only became aware Matlala was being 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 and infiltration into 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 himself and Matlala on March 5 2025.
On the day, Senona sent Matlala a News24 article highlighting companies linked to Matlala that were among 200 entities flagged by slain state officialBabita Deokaranin suspected multimillion-rand tender corruption at Tembisa Hospital, 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 to reading the article on the SIU and Hawks’ investigation into Tembisa Hospital corruption involving 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 as Senona admitted to reading the article in March 2025 he did not tell the truth before the commission. 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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