Former Dundee police captain Roshanlal Banawo has been found guilty of conspiring to murder SAPS Umzinyathi head, Major General Frances Slambert.

Delivering his judgment this morning in the Newcastle Court, Magistrate Ian Colditz said he doesn’t understand why Banawo has a grudge against Slambert but ruled that there is sufficient evidence that Banawo conspired with William Dlamini and Sthembiso Mdlalose to kill Slambert.
Banawo was arrested in November 2023 when the plot against Slambert became evident.

Slambert survived at least two assassination attempts on her life between May and August 2023.

Prosecutor Attie Truter told the Court that since Banawo’s arrest (in 2023), 42 SAPS officers had been killed in KZN in the line of duty. He remarked that this was the first time he had come across a conspiracy to kill a SAPS general and that Slambert’s planned elimination would have left a ‘huge void with the SAPS in KZN’.

Magistrate Colditz said that Banawo ‘had an obsession with Slambert’ and that investigating officer, Lt Col Attie Engelbrecht, had been an excellent witness. He had no reason to believe that Engelbrecht and Slambert had fabricated the conspiracy plot as alleged by the defence.

The defence asked that Banawo be given a wholly suspended sentence, taking into account his age and the fact that Slambert had not ‘been physically harmed’. Sentencing is expected later today.

Banawo, who was dismissed by the SAPS around 2019, has been in custody since his arrest. He is still appealing his dismissal.

Slambert is present in court along with Provincial Commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, Amajuba SAPS head, Major General Fred Alexander and other police officers and supporters.

This is a developing story, and more details will follow once these become available.

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