The owners of the luxury Browns’ Guest House, comprising two separate properties, including The Wolery, where South African champion bass angler John Wickham was shot and killed during a robbery in the early hours of Sunday morning, have expressed their deep sadness over the senseless murder, saying, “Our hearts go out to Mr Wickham’s family and friends, and we carry them in our prayers during this traumatic time of loss.”

The Browns’ Guest House was an old family home which underwent significant renovations in 2018 with the establishment of luxury tourist accommodation.

Last year, the neighbouring property was also acquired and transformed into The Wolery, a home which was subdivided into four separate overnight units, one of which housed Mr Wickham and his wife Magda.

Both properties are situated on Blue Crane Drive, and are widely considered the most secure properties, having been fitted with electric fencing and CCTV cameras in the holiday town of Dullstroom.

The murder, suspected to have been carried out by an organised group of luxury vehicle thieves, happened at around 04:20 on Sunday morning, when the Wickhams awoke to the sound of a shattered window, through which two armed assailants had gained entry to their unit.

Upon entering the bedroom, two shots were fired at Mr Wickham, who nonetheless jumped out of bed, and chased the assailants into the darkness.

He collapsed outside the unit, with Magda realising their attackers had stolen both her and Mr Wickham’s cellphones before the shooting, when she frantically wanted to phone for medical assistance.

People in neighbouring units rushed to the couples’ aid.

A security guard told Ms Wickham to rush her husband to Belfast Hospital some 30km away, where he was declared deceased on arrival.

Owners and management of the Browns’ Guest House told the Middelburg Observer, “Everyone is traumatised, but we are thankful that police brass have prioritised the investigation in order to catch the killers and bring them to justice.”

“The Wickhams deserve nothing less.”

The paper was told that before the shooting, the murderers demanded the keys to the Wickhams’ vehicle.

“The last time anything remotely criminal took place was in 2009, when a random man was caught in the garden looking for gardening equipment to steal. We are in total shock and cannot believe that our peace was shattered by such a senseless killing, the country is in trouble.”

According to management, owners and staff are supporting the police with their investigation and will assist with anything to ensure the murderers are brought to book.

Mr Wickham is survived by his wife Magda and two sons Tristan and Nathan, who like their father, obtained Protea Colours in angling.