10 YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR FORMER SAPS OFFICIAL WHO CONSPIRED TO KILL UMZINYATHI DISTRICT COMMISSIONER
14 May 2025
10 YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR FORMER SAPS OFFICIAL WHO CONSPIRED TO KILL UMZINYATHI DISTRICT COMMISSIONER
The Newcastle Magistrates’ Court has sentenced former SAPS Captain Roshanlal Banawo (63) to 10 years imprisonment for conspiring to murder SAPS uMzinyathi District Commissioner Major-General Francis Slambert.
Between May to August 2023 Banawo approached a middleman and requested him to secure a hitman to kill Slambert. They then secured the assistance of the hitman who travelled to Dundee to kill Slambert. However, their plans did not materialise in these instances. The provincial task team received information about the plot to kill Slambert and investigated further. These investigations led them to the middleman and the hitman. Cell phone records obtained by the task team confirmed communication between the middleman and Banawo. Banawo was arrested thereafter.
In the state’s case, Adv. Adriaan (Attie) Truter led the evidence of the hitman and the middleman who testified about the conspiracy. Cellphone data analysis and documentary evidence such as protection orders between the parties also formed part of the state’s case.
Banawo was sentenced accordingly and declared unfit to possess a firearm.
The National Prosecuting Authority welcomes the successful finalisation of this matter. Matters of this nature are serious and the NPA and our partners in the Justice Cluster remain resolute in our fight against crime. We hope this sentence conveys the desired deterrent message.
Issued by:
Natasha Ramkisson-Kara
NPA Regional Spokesperson
KZN Division
0716700229