James Cumalo, a Mozambican national, has been sentenced to life plus 38 years for the murder of tourist John Wickham, following a robbery in Dullstroom.
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Convicted tourist murderer, James Cumalo, will serve life plus an additional 38 years’ imprisonment after being sentenced in the Mpumalanga High Court sitting in Breyten recently.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Monica Nyuswa, confirmed that Mozambican national Cumalo was sentenced for the murder of tourist John Wickham.
During the trial, Cumalo 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“Cumalo was initially charged alongside a co-accused; however, charges against the co-accused were withdrawn due to insufficient evidence.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 November 26, 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,” said Nyuswa.
Cumalo, after firing the fatal shots, 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,” said Nyuswa.
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.
Lusenga 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 (Wickham’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,” said Nyuswa.
Cumalo was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, 15 years’ imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances, 15 years’ imprisonment for unlawful possession of a firearm, three years’ imprisonment for unlawful possession of ammunition, and five years’ imprisonment for attempting to defeat the ends of justice. He 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,” said Nyuswa.