By Johnathan Paoli
KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Major-General Lesetja Senona faced sustained scrutiny at the Madlanga Commission over his role in the storage and subsequent theft of 541 kilograms of cocaine worth about R200 million, conceding that critical security lapses occurred under his watch.
His testimony focused on how the drugs were housed at the Hawks’ Port Shepstone offices despite repeated break-ins at the site and minimal safeguards.
“I acknowledge that this happened under my watch, and the pain comes back when I ask myself, ‘Why me?’” Senona told the commission.
The cocaine was seized by police in 2021 and initially could not be stored at the Isipingo police station because, Senona said, he was informed that there was no available storage space.
He was then advised that there was space at a storage facility at the Hawks’ Port Shepstone offices.
Senona admitted that he did not personally verify the suitability
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