KZN Hawks boss faces suspension over 'missing' drugs

KWAZULU-NATAL head of the Hawks  Major-General Lesetja Senona has until Monday to explain why he should not be removed.

One of the issues that continues to hound Senona is the controversial case involving the theft of 541 kilograms of cocaine valued at R200 million, which went missing from a storage facility in Port Shepstone that had no alarm system in November 2021.

The missing cocaine, which was seized by Hawks investigators after inspecting a shipping container at a Durban depot in June 2021 also  came under scrutiny when Senona appeared before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry last week.

The disappearance of the cocaine initially prompted the Hawks to classify it as a break-in and theft, but nearly five years later, no arrests have been made in the matter.

“An investigation into his conduct has been completed, and a disciplinary enquiry has been initiated against Senona and others,” revealed a source familiar with the matter.

Senona has publicly denied any wrongdoing. However, his position as KZN’s Hawks boss during the period has raised questions about his oversight of operations.

While testifying at the Madlanga Commission about the missing drugs, Senona stated that someone “sold them out”, but that it was not him.

Meanwhile KwaZulu-Natal police have rejected Senona’s claims that he was forcibly removed from his office or had his devices confiscated.

Senona had claimed he was asked to vacate his office and that some of his gadgets were seized.  

However, in a statement yesterday,  KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said  Senona voluntarily left after security raised concerns about his arrival on a weekend, parking outside his reserved bay.

"On Saturday, January 31, 2026, unusual events happened at the Provincial Headquarters 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," Netshiunda said.

"On weekends and after normal working hours, everybody who enters the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Headquarters 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.”

Netshiunda said security personnel reported Senona’s unusual activity to provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who instructed them to ask about his presence.

"Major General Senona chose to leave the office and wanted to take the 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".

Cape Times