Lesetja Senona Says He Felt ‘Crucified’ Over Vusimuzi Matlala Links At Madlanga Commission

KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Maj-Gen Lesetja Senona returned to the Madlanga Commission on Thursday, where he said he felt “crucified” under sustained questioning about his relationship with alleged tender tycoon Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.

“I feel like I am being crucified,” Senona told commissioners as the evidence leader continued to probe his conduct and judgment.

Senona, who began his testimony earlier in the week, pushed back against what he described as relentless scrutiny over what he called a “brotherly” relationship with Matlala, a businessman investigators have linked to serious corruption and organised crime networks.

Scrutiny Over Relationship With Alleged Tender Tycoon

The senior Hawks officer told the commission he first met Matlala at his wedding in Mamelodi in 2018 and that the two maintained a close relationship until Matlala’s arrest in May last year.

Commissioners appeared visibly frustrated when Senona conceded that he was aware Matlala was under investigation by the Hawks and the Special Investigating Unit in connection with the multibillion-rand Tembisa Hospital corruption scandal.

Despite this knowledge, Senona admitted he continued to interact with Matlala both socially and professionally. He also acknowledged exchanging WhatsApp messages with Matlala a day before members of the Political Killings Task Team arrested the businessman in May 2025.

Madlanga Questions Lesetja Senona Judgment and Accountability

Senona repeatedly told the inquiry that he had decided to “gradually” distance himself from Matlala. However, he struggled to explain why he did not immediately cut ties once he became aware of the allegations.

Commission chairperson Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga challenged this reasoning, reminding Senona of the responsibilities that come with his position as a senior police officer tasked with maintaining integrity and public trust.

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Madlanga pressed Senona on why, after deciding on March 5 to end contact, he continued communicating with Matlala instead of severing the relationship immediately, given the seriousness of the allegations.

In response, Senona said he was “moving away” from Matlala, an answer that failed to ease concerns raised at the commission about leadership judgment, accountability and the independence of the Hawks.

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