His former national head contradicts him on who knew where the drugs were (Day 171)
On 1 September 2026 retired Hawks national head Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya told the commission that he did not know the roughly 541kg of seized cocaine was being held at the Port Shepstone offices until after it was stolen: 'I can't recall him informing me as to where he has stored the drugs.' Senona's own evidence to this commission was the opposite - that he had raised it with Lebeya, telling him 'the Port Shepstone offices had previously safely stored a large quantity'. Per the African News Agency, evidence leader Advocate Lee Segeels-Ncube put the consequence to Lebeya directly: 'Because it's either that General Senona is lying, or you're lying, or you're both mistaken about what transpired.' Lebeya declined to say Senona had lied. The commission has not determined which account is correct, neither man has been found to have misled it, and both are presumed innocent.
Never polygraphed himself after the theft, on the Day 171 evidence
Per the Sowetan, the commission heard on 1 September 2026 that after the cocaine went missing Senona had the Hawks members involved in transporting it polygraphed - the net reaching as far as cleaners - while he was never polygraphed, notwithstanding that he directed the storage and, on the evidence before the commission, held keys to the safe room. Asked why he permitted that, Lebeya said the provincial head administered the disciplinary process and that accountability for his own conduct sat with the supervisory line above him. Senona has told the commission previously that he regarded polygraphing a victim as 'insane' and that Brigadier Campbell Nyuswa initiated the polygraph applications. This is contested evidence about a process, not a finding; Senona is presumed innocent.
Returned to contest the inquiry's fairness
On 19 June 2026 (Day 122) Senona returned for a second round, now represented by Advocate Dali Mpofu SC. Mpofu accused the commission of a 'serial refusal' to share requested transcripts and questioned the cost and burden of recalling Senona over ground covered in his three-day January appearance. Evidence leader Advocate Mahlape Sello SC rejected the claim that Senona was being treated unfairly.
Disputes the coffee-machine polygraph account
Senona challenged Warrant Officer Karl Sander's evidence, saying the office had suffered four thefts - a state camera, a state laptop, a laminating machine and, last, the coffee machine - pointing to an inside job. He said Brigadier Campbell Nyuswa initiated the polygraph applications and that he himself only signed the call-up instruction, calling it 'insane' to polygraph a victim. He said Sander 'misled the commission'.
Accuses Prinsloo of misleading the commission
Senona told the inquiry that retired Lieutenant Colonel Jakobus Prinsloo had misled it over the handling and storage of the seized cocaine at Port Shepstone.
The report to the deputy national commissioner
Under cross-examination, a factual report Senona submitted to SAPS Deputy National Commissioner for Policing Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili was challenged as inaccurate - including a statement that the container seal was broken in the presence of operational-support and narcotics members, which other evidence disputes. Senona said he relayed a report compiled for him and never intentionally misled his superior; the wording was settled as 'incorrect information' rather than misleading.
Says no security threats were reported to him
Senona testified that no security threats at the Port Shepstone office were ever reported to him before the cocaine was stored there - contradicting Brigadier Nyuswa, who said the provincial head had toured the offices and was briefed on the security upgrades.
Never polygraphed himself; control of the keys
Senona conceded he was never subjected to a polygraph after the theft, despite directing where the drugs were stored (Maj-Gen Hendrik Flynn testified that he should have been), and testimony indicates he assumed control of the storage keys when the drugs were booked in - a step described as inconsistent with standard procedure.
What Matlala said about the friendship from the witness box (Day 167, 26 August 2026)
The whole of Day 167 went to Senona, put to the other man in the relationship. Per the Mail & Guardian, Matlala described him as 'not friends but he's my older brother', said they met around 2018 or 2019 at a wedding, and denied any improper or corrupt dealing between them; per The Citizen he said the friendship deepened after a funeral in 2020 or 2021 and that Senona is 'someone that I share my problems with'. Senona has given evidence to this commission twice, denies wrongdoing, and is presumed innocent. This is one witness's account and no finding has been made.
The R20,000 lent after a raid on Matlala's home (Day 167, 26 August 2026)
Per SABC News and EWN, Matlala testified that after police raided his Pretoria home on 6 December 2024 and seized his phones, leaving him unable to transact, Senona lent him R20,000: 'I even borrowed money from him. Yes ... yes, I remember that day he gave me R20,000.' Matlala further said that when a second raid followed on 18 December 2024, Senona undertook to find out what was behind it but never returned with any information. Lending a friend money is not unlawful; the commission's interest is in the office the lender held. Untested.
The WhatsApp advice on challenging the Medicare24 cancellation (Day 167, 26 August 2026)
Per The Citizen, messages dated 13 May 2025 were led in which Senona advised Matlala to seek legal advice with a view to challenging the South African Police Service's cancellation of Matlala's R360 million Medicare24 contract. Asked what interest a Hawks general could have in the contract, Matlala answered: 'There's nothing for him to have interest in the contract ... but he knows that I need the contract.' Untested and not a finding; Senona has not answered this specific exchange before the commission.
Present at the Umhlanga meeting with Lt-Gen Mkhwanazi (Day 167, 26 August 2026)
Per The Citizen and Business Day, Matlala said Senona accompanied him to a meeting with KwaZulu-Natal provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi at Umhlanga on 15 April 2025, arranged by former police minister Bheki Cele, at which Matlala sought help over his company's non-performance problems on the police contract. Matlala said Senona took no part in the discussion of the tender or the purchase orders. Untested.
The joint property venture with his son Thato, which Matlala refused to describe (Day 167, 26 August 2026)
Per the Mail & Guardian and SABC News, Matlala confirmed only that a venture with Senona and the general's son Thato Senona concerned an apartment bought to rent out for under R3 million, and refused to go further because his own conduct with Senona is under police investigation for corruption. Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga noted that Senona had given the commission a different account of the same project and asked for the inconsistency to be explained. Neither account has been tested and both men are presumed innocent. Threads involving Senona and his son were among the five WhatsApp threads flagged for the commission as far back as Day 15 in October 2025.
Placed at the farm of the late Jotham Msibi (Day 167, 26 August 2026)
Per Business Day, evidence on Day 167 placed Senona at the farm of the late taxi boss Jotham 'King Mswazi' Msibi, described in evidence on Day 161 as a former leader of the alleged 'Big Five' cartel, where Matlala's company rendered protection services. Msibi is dead and can answer none of it; Senona is presumed innocent and no finding has been made.
Suspension, removal at gunpoint, and a delayed return
Senona has been suspended as head of the KZN Hawks. His substantive testimony was a three-day stint on 27-29 January 2026; his rescheduled 5 June testimony was postponed after evidence leader Adv Mahlape Sello told the commission his attorney had fallen seriously ill, and he finally returned on 19 June 2026. He said he was removed from his office at gunpoint on 31 January and spent two weeks in hospital, and raised fears for his and his family's safety.
