Police dismiss claims KZN Hawks head Senona was kicked out of his office

KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Hawks head Lesetja Senona testifies before the Madlanga commission at Brigitte Mabandla Judicial College in Pretoria on 28 January 2026. Picture: Gallo Images / Frennie Shivambu KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) police have clarified that, despite claims by the province’s Hawks head, Major-General Lesetja Senona, that he has been kicked out of office and that his gadgets have been seized, the crime-fighting units say Senona is still their employee. On Sunday,Senona alleged that he was just toldby KZN Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi to move from his current office, while he is under investigation.

Senona was named in a Presidency statement as one of five senior-ranking police officers identified in the Madlanga Commission’s interim report to face investigation. The province’s Hawks head faced tough questions about his alleged links to tender tycoon Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and the handling of confidential police documents. The commission delivered its interim report to President Cyril Ramaphosaon 17 December, three months after the first hearing took place on 17 September.

Ramaphosa has ordered theestablishment of a special task team,under the National Commissioner, Fanie Masemola, to investigate those fingered in the report. KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said Senona was not “kicked out” from his office. Netshiunda said that Senona voluntarily left after security raised concerns about his arrival on a weekend and parking outside his reserved bay.

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He added that Senona has a dedicated “senior manager’s parking bay reserved for him” on Parking Level 1 of the KZN Provincial Headquarters building. “The parking is available for him every day, at any time. On Saturday, January 31, 2026, unusual events happened at the Provincial Headquarters of police in KwaZulu-Natal. Major General Senona arrived at the building and chose to park on the street parking opposite the building, not at his dedicated parking inside the building,” Netshiunda said

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