THE POSITION OF KWAZULU-NATAL POLICE ON THE SEIZURE OF MAJOR GENERAL SENONA’S STATE PROPERTY

THE POSITION OF KWAZULU-NATAL POLICE ON THE SEIZURE OF MAJOR GENERAL SENONA’S STATE PROPERTY

DURBAN: 1 February 2026 – Police in KwaZulu-Natal would like to set the record straight on reports that the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Head of the Hawks, Major General Lesetja Senona was kicked out of his office and had his electronic devices taken away from him.

Major General Senona has a dedicated Senior Manager’s parking bay reserved for him on the Parking Level 1 of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Head Quarters building. The parking is available for him everyday, at any time.

On Saturday, 31 January 2026, unusual events happened at the Provincial Head Quarters of police in KwaZulu-Natal. Major General Senona arrived at the building and chose to park on the street parking opposite the building, not at his dedicated parking inside the building. Moments later he was joined by another Colonel, also from the Hawks in KwaZulu-Natal. The Colonel left his vehicle and joined Major General Senona in his vehicle for approximately 45 minutes. Later on, Major General Senona and his secretary entered the building through the main entrance.

On weekends and after normal working hours, everybody who enters the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Head Quarters building, regardless of rank, must sign a register. Major General Senona breached that security protocol by going through to his office without signing the register. His secretary signed, but only for herself. The Colonel, who also entered the building, also failed to sign the register.

The unusual events of Major General Senona coming to work on a Saturday, the parking of his vehicle on the street and not at his parking bay inside the building, the unusual in-the-car meeting on the street with a Colonel, and the failure to sign the mandatory register raised security concerns.

The South African Police Service has a responsibility to safeguard sensitive information from leakage, and with Major General Senona’s testimony at the Madlanga Commission revealing that he once sent out police documents to a private person, the unusual events on the day compelled the security personnel on duty, especially those who were manning the camera system, to inform the Provincial Commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi about the unusual activities which they observed.

Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi instructed the security personnel to go to Major General Senona to ask him what he was doing in the office. Major General Senona chose to leave the office, and wanted to take state computer and other documents with him. He was then asked to leave all state property behind, except for his official cellphone. Major General Senona voluntarily left the keys of his office.

In respect of internal police protocol, Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi informed the Acting National Head of the Hawks of what happened and asked him to send someone to fetch office keys which Major General Senona had left with the officer in charge of security officers.

Police in KwaZulu-Natal are focused on executing their mandate of protecting the residents of KwaZulu-Natal and their property. Any other boardroom matter will be ventilated at the correct platforms at the right time.