James Cumalo (32) LIFE AND 38 YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT FOR MURDER OF A TOURIST


 Friday 24 April 2026

LIFE AND 38 YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT FOR MURDER OF A TOURIST
Mpumalanga – Breyten: The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the sentence of life plus an additional 38 years’ imprisonment, imposed by the Mpumalanga High Court sitting in Breyten on Mozambican national James Cumalo (32) for the murder of tourist John Wickham.
The accused pleaded guilty and was convicted of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and attempting to defeat the ends of justice. Cumalo was initially charged alongside a co-accused; however, charges against the co-accused were withdrawn due to insufficient evidence.
The incident occurred on 26 November 2023 in Dullstroom. The accused hitchhiked from Pretoria to a guesthouse with the intention of committing robbery. Upon arrival, he jumped over the fence, proceeded to one of the rooms, and forcefully kicked the door open. Inside, he found a couple asleep and demanded money and valuables. When the victims resisted, the accused produced a firearm and fatally shot Wickham. He then fled the scene with stolen belongings before hitchhiking back to Pretoria. After the incident, he requested a friend to dispose of the firearm.
During the investigation, police found the accused in possession of the deceased’s cellphone and arrested him. Further investigations established that he was unlawfully present in the country. In court, Senior State Advocate Themba Lusenga presented a post-mortem report confirming that the cause of death was penetrating gunshot wounds to the neck and chest. He argued that the offences were premeditated and committed for personal gain and submitted that the guilty plea should be regarded as a neutral factor, urging the court to impose the prescribed minimum sentence.
Victim Impact Statements, compiled by the deceased’s sons and facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Faith Masango, were presented to the court. These details describe the emotional and psychological trauma suffered by the family following the loss of their loved one.
The court sentenced the accused as follows: Life imprisonment for murder,15 years’ imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances,15 years’ imprisonment for unlawful possession of a firearm,3 years’ imprisonment for unlawful possession of ammunition and 5 years’ imprisonment for attempting to defeat the ends of justice. The accused was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
The NPA commends the work of the investigating and prosecution teams in combating violent crime. The Authority reiterates that the value of human life cannot be overstated and reaffirms its commitment to pursuing such cases vigorously to ensure accountability and serve as a deterrent.

If you know anything about this case or any similar crimes, Kindly consider to do the right thing.

Call SAPS Crime line 086 00 10 111 OR download The My SAPS App. It's FREE and you could save a life.
Teach your children how to use The My SAPS App.
You can aslo call or visit your local police station.
Call 10 111.

#MySAPSApp. #WANTED #murder #StopGBV #NoBail #ChildRape #StopRape #notoalcohol

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