The head of crime intelligence, Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo, has testified at the Madlanga Commission that a senior Hawks official in KwaZulu-Natal leaked sensitive police information to controversial businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
Khumalo stated that Major General Leseja Senona, the head of the Hawks in the province, provided confidential documents to Matlala. The motive was allegedly to protect a business relationship between Matlala and Senona’s son.
Matlala was identified as a leader of a group referred to as the “Big Five cartel.” This group is accused of involvement in public tender fraud, contract killings, drug distribution, and cross-border kidnappings.
Khumalo’s testimony also linked a private investigator, Calvin Rafadi, to the scandal. He stated that Rafadi sold classified information to Matlala, which he obtained from his contacts with high-ranking police officials.
The commission heard that the alleged influence of this cartel extended to the highest levels of the police ministry. It was previously suggested that this influence led to the unlawful attempt to disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), as the cartel believed the unit was investigating them.
The testimony continues as the commission investigates allegations of widespread criminality and political interference within the South African criminal justice system.