TheMadlanga Commissionhas referred KwaZulu-Natal head of theDirectorate for Priority Crimes Investigation(the Hawks) Lesetja Senona for further investigation, in an interim report adopted by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Senona this week appeared before the commission probing corruption in the criminal justice system and was questioned about his links to businessman and alleged leader of the Gauteng-based so-called Big 5 cartelVusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. On Thursday the presidency said Ramaphosa had accepted the interim report from the commission which recommends investigation and prosecution on several officials including Senona, South African Police Service head of organised crime Richard Shibiri, Sedibeng district commissioner Mbangwa Nkhwashu, Brigadier Rachel Matjeng and Sergeant Fannie Nkosi.
The commission said in its report that there was enough prima facie evidence for an investigation, including on several officials within the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department. The presidency said Ramaphosa had directed acting police minister Firoz Cachalia and national police commissioner Fannie Masemola to constitute a special investigations task team. At the Madlanga inquiry this week, Senona denied any involvement in Matlala’s business activities, insisting they were just close friends.
He also denied the existence of the Big 5 cartel Matlala allegedly leads, saying the only Big Five he knows are the iconic wild animals. Towards the end of his testimony, Senona became frustrated by the panel’s questioning of his testimony. His lawyers argued he felt prejudiced and was not provided all the relevant documents.
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Panel members questioned Senona about his WhatsApp texts with Matlala, highlighting that the pair shared documents and discussed police matters. Senona sent Matlala a copy of a letter from suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, the one disbanding a task team investigating political killings. Senior police officials have testified that the task team was disbanded after a search and seizure operation at Matlala’s house.
Firearms belonging to Matlala’s security company were seized during a joint operation by the Gauteng organised crime unit and the KwaZulu-Natal-based task team. The commission has heard that the raid was briefly interrupted by Pretoria-based Hawks officials. Crime intelligence bossDumisani Khumaloindicated that there was a “double agent” within the Hawks whose phone number was found in Matlala’s phone.
Senona has been implicated by Khumalo, along with Witness X and Witness C, who alleged that he abused his position by sharing sensitive police information with Matlala. He rejected these claims outright this week, describing them as baseless and malicious.
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