Despite maintaining his innocence, KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Major-General Lesetja Senona has admitted to being friends with accused criminal Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
Senona told the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry in Pretoria that his interactions with Matlala were limited to offering casual advice and, on one occasion, introducing him to individuals in the private security sector.
He was responding to allegations by several witnesses that he helped Matlala secure a multimillion-rand SAPS tender, which was later cancelled following Matlala’s arrest on allegations that he ordered a hit on his former girlfriend, Tebogo Thobejane.
Senona also acknowledged that his son had a close relationship with Matlala but insisted that their dealings had nothing to do with him or his role within the police.
“Yes, Mr Matlala is my friend, but I have nothing to do with his business dealings,” Senona said.
“He would occasionally ask me about certain things, and I would give advice here and there on security-related issues, such as risks. I once introduced him to a third party because there were matters he needed assistance with. I was in KwaZulu-Natal at the time, so they dealt with each other here in Pretoria. I merely connected them.”
Senona made the remarks in an apparent attempt to downplay the extent of his relationship with Matlala.
He further testified that KwaZulu-Natal SAPS commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi had allegedly offered to derail an investigation into Matlala’s attempted murder case in exchange for information on an alleged Mozambican kidnapper known as Nangi, who reportedly lived in the same estate as Matlala.
Matlala made similar claims during his appearance before an ad hoc committee investigating allegations of criminal infiltration within the police.
Proceedings were later adjourned after Senona’s legal team indicated they had only been informed on the day of his appearance that additional time would be required for his testimony. They said Senona had not planned to testify for longer than one day and had only allocated time for Tuesday.
Commission chairperson Justice Madlanga criticised the lack of preparation, stating that Senona should have made the necessary arrangements. The commission ruled that Senona must return to testify both today and tomorrow.
Senona’s legal team also objected to him being questioned about a video purportedly showing him in conversation with Matlala during a meeting. They argued that Senona had not been made aware of the footage beforehand.
However, evidence leader Advocate Adila Hassim SC countered that the 17-second clip was downloaded from Senona’s own phone, meaning he should have had knowledge of it.
The commission is expected to rule on the admissibility of the footage at the start of proceedings.