KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Major-General Lesetja Senona has defended his handling of a multimillion-rand drug consignment that was later stolen from a police storage facility in Port Shepstone, arguing that similar incidents have occurred elsewhere within the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Appearing before the commission of inquiry for a second time on Friday, Senona denied wrongdoing and claimed the theft of 541kg of drugs was not an isolated incident.
During his testimony, Senona referred to media reports and photographs showing senior police officials, including former Police Minister Bheki Cele, former National Commissioner General Khehla Sitole and senior SAPS leadership, posing with confiscated drugs that were not stored in forensic evidence bags.
He argued that the images demonstrated that similar handling practices had previously occurred at senior levels within the police service.
Senona is facing scrutiny over allegations that he failed to properly secure the narcotics by not placing them in evidence bags and storing them at a facility that was later targeted by thieves.
He told the commission that had he known of alternative storage facilities, he would have used them, adding that the decision was based on available options at the time.
The Hawks boss also highlighted other security breaches involving SAPS facilities, including an attempted robbery at the Pretoria Forensic Science Laboratory and the disappearance of several bags of confiscated dagga from KwaMbonambi Police Station.
According to Senona, these incidents demonstrate broader security challenges affecting police facilities and evidence storage across the country.
The commission continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the theft and the handling of the drug consignment.