Madlanga Commission: 'Crucified' Senona to resume testimony

KwaZulu-Natal Hawks boss Lesetja Senona will resume his testimony before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Thursday, after claiming to be “crucified”.

Senona - who began his testimony on Monday - struggled to concede that his “brotherly” relationship with criminally linked tender don, Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, was unprofessional.

Senona claims he allegedly met Matlala during his wedding in Mamelodi in 2019, and the pair shared a close bond until Matlala’s arrest in May last year.

Senona appeared to frustrate the commissioners with his lack of accountability regarding his relationship with alleged "Big Five" cartel member, Matlala.

Despite knowing Matlala was the focus of an investigation by the Hawks and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) into the multi-billion-rand Tembisa Hospital scandal, Senona continued his cordial relationship with Matlala.

ALSO READ: Identity of alleged notorious figure revealed at the Madlanga Commission

On several occasions, Senona told the commission that he chose to gradually end his relationship with Matlala.

He even communicated with Matlala on WhatsApp a day before members of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) arrested him in May last year.

The chairperson of the commission, Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, couldn’t understand this.

“You are a police officer. You become aware that a person you consider to be your brother, that he is involved in criminality. And on the 5th of March (2025), you decide you want to cut communication with him, but you do this gradually. Why did you not terminate communication immediately?”

Senona will resume with his testimony before the commission.