A former South African Police Service (SAPS) captain has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for conspiring to assassinate a high-ranking police official in KwaZulu-Natal.
Roshanlal Banawo, 63, was convicted in the Newcastle Magistrate’s Court for plotting to murder Umzinyathi District Commissioner, Major General Francis Slambert. The court heard that Banawo, who had served 39 years in SAPS before his dismissal, orchestrated three failed assassination attempts.
Details of the Plot
Intelligence reports led to Banawo’s arrest in November 2023 by the KwaZulu-Natal provincial task team. During the trial, prosecutors revealed that he had offered R50,000 (approximately $2,700) to carry out the killing, though it remains unclear whether he acted alone or with accomplices.
The defense argued for a suspended sentence, citing Banawo’s age, family responsibilities, and unemployment. However, the Magistrate found him guilty of conspiracy to murder, while acquitting him on a separate charge of incitement to murder.
Court’s Ruling & Reactions
In addition to the prison term, the court declared Banawo unfit to possess a firearm. Major General Slambert welcomed the verdict, stating, “10 years is enough for him to be out of society… Crime does not pay.”
Provincial Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi expressed mixed feelings, saying, “We hoped for more, but 10 years sends a message.” He warned other officers against criminal conduct, adding, “We hope he comes back a changed man.”
The case has drawn attention to internal misconduct within law enforcement, with authorities emphasizing a zero-tolerance approach to corruption and violence among officers.
