Inquiry reveals Major-General Senona's selective memory regarding Tembisa Hospital tender scandal

KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Major-General Lesetja Senona faced intense questioning at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Wednesday over his claim he did not know that suspected crime kingpin Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala was involved in the Tembisa Hospital tender scandal linked to whistle-blower Babita Deokaran's murder. 

This was despite the fact that Senona had previously referred to Matlala as his brother and friend who met up regularly and talked about their struggles. 

Evidence leader Advocate Adila Hassim SC wanted to know if Senona knew Deokaran's name.

Senona said "yes," but he claimed he only learned of Matlala's link to the Tembisa Hospital scandal through newspaper articles shared by the commission on Tuesday.

He said one of the things he knew about Deokaran's murder case was that it was investigated by Johannesburg serious crime, he saw the arrest, and knows some investigators. 

He testified that Matlala's phone was seized by police and downloaded, saying that data like newspaper articles would have been in the commission's bundle if Matlala shared them. 

"If he shared these newspaper articles with me, they would have been displayed in the bundle that the commission is given. But also if I had shared them with him," he told the inquiry.

Senona added that he does not monitor media reports as part of his police duties, saying: "It must be noted that among other things that I do as a police officer, I do not patrol media space to look for things.

"These articles, commissioners, I read them and they gave me the file yesterday (Tuesday) after we adjourned. I went through them. I checked my WhatsApp that was given to me, I have never come across these or has Mr Matlala sent them to me or any other person."

He said if he would have seen such messages about the articles, he would have questioned Matlala and been more suspicious of him.

Co-commissioner Advocate Sandile Khumalo SC expressed concern that Senona seemed not to consider it a red flag that the head of the Hawks is a friend with people with criminal records and he is not aware of it.

In response, Senona said: "I do not profile them until I know there is anything sinister, then I will start to ask questions. I will start to engage the very same person that I have befriended." 

Senona was questioned about why he did not cut ties with Matlala after learning of his SAPS investigation for the attempted murder of his ex-girlfriend Tebogo Thobejane. 

He had previously stated that he would gradually distance himself from Matlala as of March 5, 2025, but continued to communicate with him. 

Justice Mbuyisile Madlanga, chairing the commission, questioned Senona's selective memory, noting he often claimed not to recall or know details implicating Matlala, only acknowledging issues when confronted with direct evidence.

"A theme that runs through your statement is that when it comes to anything concerning Mr Matlala, when you look at the text, it is either you don't recall or you do not know, and it is a text stirring you in your face you will say 'yes I do read it now but I do not recall what this was all about’. That is a theme that runs through your testimony," he said.

Madlanga poked holes in Senona's testimony, saying he seemed to conveniently "not recall" key events, like the Durban apartment meeting, where he was "going up and down to refill your glass. I do not know how quickly you gulped down your drink that, for the most part, you would not have been with the people who were discussing".

According to Senona’s testimony on Tuesday, the Durban apartment meeting was hosted by Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi on April 15, 2025, at his homestead to discuss Matlala’s purchase order disputes related to his Medicare24 company's R360 million SAPS contract to the SAPS Pretoria College. 

The meeting was allegedly organised by former Police minister Bheki Cele, and Senona was asked by Matlala to accompany him to the meeting for "morale support". He said Cele was not present at the meeting.

He testified that he was not privy to all that was discussed, as he was moving between the living area and the kitchen, and enjoying whisky offered by Mkhwanazi.

He testified that Mkhwanazi agreed to assist Matlala with purchase orders and offered to pause an investigation against Matlala related to the attempted murder case in exchange for information about Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya. 

Regarding criticisms about his selective memory, he said: "Commissioners, I am a human being. I am subjected to characteristics of a human being. If I don't remember and it gives the commissioners a concern, it is an unfortunate situation."

He was also questioned about the advice he gave to Matlala to legally challenge the SAPS National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola's letter to immediately terminate Matlala's Medicare24 contract due to his company abusing the supply chain management system and engaging in fraudulent and corrupt practices in competing for the contract.

After being alerted by Matlala about the contract termination, Senona said in a WhatsApp message: "This is something so sad, but it leaves one with no choice but to seek legal advice on this issue with a view to challenge this decision."

He told the commission that he did not think it was inappropriate to give Matlala advice.

Senona’s testimony is still under way.

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za