Officer details moments leading to DJ Warras' murder

THE investigating officer in the murder of popular media personality DJ Warrick Stock, known as DJ Warras, has detailed the dispute that he believes led to Warras being killed outside the Zambesi Building in Johannesburg last month.

Captain Abe Montwedi took the stand in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday when the State opposed murder accused Victor Majola’s bail application. 

Montwedi told the court that the original owner of the building died in 2018, after which his son inherited the property. 

The son later noticed a sharp decline in rental income, from more than R700,000 a month to about R400,000.

This, he said, raised suspicions that something was wrong.

According to Montwedi, it later emerged that certain tenants were collecting rent from other occupants and not paying it over to the rightful owner.

DJ Warras and his business partner were approached to assist. 

They called a meeting with tenants and announced plans to take over management of the flats, introduce biometric access and issue permits to residents.

“This angered those who were illegally collecting money,” Montwedi said.

He testified that one of those individuals was Majola’s girlfriend. 

The group allegedly threatened DJ Warras, warning him that they would not allow him to “take money from their mouths”.

Montwedi said DJ Warras subsequently applied for a protection order against six individuals, including Majola’s girlfriend. 

The matter was heard in the Johannesburg court, where further threats were allegedly made.

On December 16, DJ Warras returned to the flats to restore security cameras. 

Montwedi said Majola and two other men were seen sitting near street vendors outside the building.

When DJ Warras came out and stood near his car while speaking on the phone, a witness allegedly heard Majola speaking in isiZulu to the other two men, saying, “Nangu lomuntu.”

After DJ Warras ended the call and attempted to return inside the building, one of the men, described as wearing a rasta hat,  allegedly shot him several times.

The three men then fled the scene on foot, Montwedi said.

The investigating officer told the court that CCTV footage obtained from a nearby butchery showed Majola arriving with the alleged shooter, sitting together before the incident and leaving together afterwards.

He said on December 22, police received information from an informant that Majola and his girlfriend were hiding in Soweto. 

Montwedi said he personally went to a hostel in Meadowlands, where Majola was found sleeping with his girlfriend and arrested.

During the arrest, police seized several mobile phones. 

Montwedi testified that DJ Warras’ vehicle registration papers were found on Majola’s phone, along with documents belonging to DJ Warras’ partner.

He said the girlfriend’s phone showed that she had forwarded photographs and information to Majola. 

A voice note retrieved from her phone allegedly indicated concerns among accomplices about whether police would find incriminating material.

“She said everything had been deleted,” Montwedi testified.

An identity parade was later conducted, during which Majola was pointed out as the man who allegedly identified DJ Warras to the shooter.

Montwedi told the court that Majola has no fixed address, has moved between various locations in Johannesburg and does not own property in the area. 

He said there were still outstanding suspects and warned that Majola could intimidate witnesses, including street vendors.

“It is my humble request to this honourable court to keep the applicant behind bars,” Montwedi said.

Family members of DJ Warras were seen weeping in court as the officer detailed the events surrounding the killing.

However, Majola’s lawyer, Dumisani Mabunda, argued that his client should be released on bail, maintaining that Majola did not commit the crime. 

He said Majola does not have a passport and is not a flight risk.

The bail hearing continues.

Cape Times