Senona must testify until completion: Justice Madlanga

KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Lesetja Senona gives testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry in Pretoria on January 27, 2026.

The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has ruled that KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Lesetja Senona must make himself available until he completes his testimony.

The committee’s chairperson, retired Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, made the ruling in Pretoria.

This comes after Senona’s legal counsel raised an objection about an agreement reached with the commission that he would only testify on Tuesday.

The legal team has argued that the witness has only requested a day’s leave, as he was not aware that he might be needed on Wednesday.

Senona is accused of assisting alleged criminal kingpin Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala to secure a R360 million South African Police Service (SAPS) tender.

Madlanga says Senona is compelled to appear before the commission for as long as he is needed.

He says, “What he does with his leave arrangements is his business, and he will have to attend to that. So, the ruling is, General, you are required to be here today (Tuesday) and tomorrow (Wednesday), and if tomorrow, for whatever reason, we reach a point at which we must continue beyond tomorrow, you are required to be here beyond tomorrow as well. Do you understand that?”

Madlanga says, “He could have made those arrangements to go beyond today; why he chose to do it differently, I have no idea and you have explained to us why that is so.”

Madlanga says, “I will not be doing a back and fourth, I’m now at a stage where we at this commission must make ruling, and our ruling is going to be in accordance with what the Commission’s Act provides and also in accordance with our direction for the general’s appearance and he is required to be here until his testimony has been completed.”