DURBAN, KWA-ZULU NATAL — Major General Leseja Senona has resigned with immediate effect as the head of the Hawks in KwaZulu-Natal, marking a sudden exit for the senior officer amidst ongoing scrutiny from the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
The abrupt departure of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) provincial leader comes as the Commission continues to lay bare alleged wrongdoing within the unit. Senona’s resignation appears to be a highly calculated strategic move. During his most recent appearance before the Madlanga Commissioner, where he faced additional questioning regarding the controversial Port Shepstone incident, he alluded to stepping down from his position.
By resigning now, Senona exits the South African Police Service (SAPS) shortly after being cleared in the long-standing Ishmael Nangi disciplinary matter—a case in which he and five other officers were officially exonerated. Leaving the force at this juncture allows Senona to depart while his name has been cleared in one major internal probe, rather than risking further disciplinary action related to the Port Shepstone cocaine theft that currently remains under the Commission’s lens.
Furthermore, age and financial security play a critical role in the timing of the exit. Senona, who is in his 60s, retains his SAPS benefits upon resignation. Had he remained in the service and been dismissed following further disciplinary hearings, he would have forfeited a significant number of his pension and retirement benefits afforded to police officers.
During his testimony, Senona revealed that he had already been effectively sidelined from his KwaZulu-Natal office. While not under a formal suspension, he was dealing with the Ishmael Nangi disciplinary code and testified that he had been “painfully removed” from his duties. This final resignation marks the end of that formal internal journey.
The resignation significantly alters the landscape of accountability for the Major General. Because he is no longer a member of the Hawks or the SAPS, he cannot be subjected to any further internal disciplinary proceedings. The only remaining avenue for action is through a criminal lens. The Madlanga Commissioner could potentially recommend criminal prosecution regarding the bizarre Port Shepstone cocaine theft, which occurred under Senona’s watch. If the Commission makes such a referral, it would trigger further criminal investigations and potential legal implications.
It remains unclear who will step in to lead the KwaZulu-Natal Hawks in the interim. With Senona having been out of active office for some time, the DPCI will now need to manage the leadership transition while the Madlanga Commission continues to uncover what went wrong during the Port Shepstone operation and why that specific location was targeted for the incident.
