By Johnathan Paoli
The Madlanga Commission has postponed the return of KZN Hawks head Major-General Lesetja Senona to 1 June, after his legal team asked for more time to prepare and raised procedural objections to his summons.
Commission Chairperson Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga confirmed the ruling on Wednesday, following an application by evidence leader advocate Mahlape Sello, who said the request had been received earlier in the week.
“General Senona had been issued with a subpoena to appear on the 8th of May, which is Friday. On Monday we received a request from his attorneys for a postponement of his appearance from the 8th of May to a later date,” Sello said.
ALSO READ: WATCH: Ramaphosa, Chapo strengthen SA Mozambique ties amid regional challenges
Madlanga asked whether sufficient reasons had been provided by Senona’s legal team.
Sello said that while not all arguments were strong, key factors justified the delay.
“[I] wouldn’t say all the reasons advanced are cogent, but one of the issues he raises is that since his suspension, he doesn’t have sufficient access to his… computers and records held at the office, and it would require more time to attend to that. And I think perhaps that alone may be a sufficient ground to grant him the extension,” she said.
She added that Senona’s ongoing labour case and scheduling conflicts were also relevant.
Madlanga granted the application.
The postponement follows objections from Senona’s legal team, who have raised concerns about alleged procedural irregularities, including claims that the summons was not preceded by a Rule 3 notice and supporting documentation.
His lawyers also argued that the issues contained in the summons had already been addressed in earlier testimony.
ALSO READ: WATCH: Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya shares Ramaphosa’s public schedule
Senona had been expected to return to the commission amid fresh allegations, including claims by Hawks Serious Organised Crime head Major-General Hendrik Flynn linking him to events surrounding the theft of cocaine from police offices in Port Shepstone.
His attorneys further cited prior commitments, including a disciplinary hearing from 4 to 6 May and a court appearance in Durban on 7 May, as reasons for his unavailability.
Meanwhile, proceedings were briefly disrupted earlier in the morning when a fire alarm was triggered at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College, forcing an evacuation of staff and prompting a response from emergency services.
No injuries or damage was reported, with investigations into the cause of the alarm still ongoing.
INSIDE POLITICS
