PRETORIA - KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Lesetja Senona denies any knowledge of the so-called Big Five cartel.
He told the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry that the only Big Five he knows are the lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo.
Testimonies from Witness X and suspended Crime Intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo linked Senona to alleged crime boss Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala, whose name has featured prominently at the commission probing allegations of criminality, political interference and corruption in the criminal justice system.
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When questioned about his knowledge of criminal cartels operating in the country, Senona said he was familiar with organised crime syndicates involved in drug trafficking and cash-in-transit robberies.
He told the Madlanga Commission that the syndicates he had dealt with were largely confined to KwaZulu-Natal.
The exception, he said, was during investigations into the July 2021 unrest, where connections to Gauteng, the Free State and North West were identified.
Senona has also been accused of leaking confidential information, which he denies.
He stressed that Hawks investigations rely heavily on secrecy to protect intelligence sources and undercover operations.
Therefore, Senona said, he is only privy to investigations within his mandate.
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He added that all senior officials involved in the Provincial Project Forums are required to sign oaths of secrecy even though they hold top-secret security clearance.
“The purpose of us doing that is to ensure that people are not going to leak this information. If you find you have done that, you will have to face the consequences.”
Senona confirmed his own clearance expired in September last year and is currently being renewed.
The commission continues.