Ultimatum for top Hawk on why he should not be plucked

TOP cop, Major-General Lesetja Senona has until today to explain why he should not be removed as KwaZulu-Natal's head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), also as the Hawks.

- SIPHO JACK [e-mail]

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

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

The disappearance of the drug 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.

Sources close to the internal investigation suggested that Senona might be involved in the disappearance of the cocaine and other unlawful activities.

"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.