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Murder accused walks free

Murder acquittal raises questions on police probe and evidence handling

By Andries van Zyl • 13 November 2025
Murder accused walks free

A man accused of murdering De Necker van Schalkwyk was acquitted after his confession was deemed inadmissible due to alleged police assault. This ruling has halted the murder investigation, leaving the police with no suspects and raising questions about the initial handling of the case.

In a dramatic turn of events, the man previously accused of murdering 28-year-old De Necker van Schalkwyk has been found not guilty in the Hermanus Magistrate’s Court. The acquittal of Sandile Lumatha on 24 October 2025 has raised new questions about the police investigation, the handling of key evidence, and what really happened on the day Van Schalkwyk died.

The ruling comes almost two years after Van Schalkwyk’s body was discovered, reportedly with a gunshot wound to the back of the ...

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