The Deadly Cost of Reclaiming Johannesburg: Inside the Murder of DJ Warras

The streets of Johannesburg’s CBD are no strangers to danger, but the brutal shooting of Warrick Stock, better known as DJ Warras, has brought the city’s darkest corners into sharp focus. The 34-year-old DJ and property activist was gunned down outside Zambesi House shortly after noon on Tuesday, December 16, in what authorities now believe was a targeted assassination.

CCTV footage shows a short man with dreadlocks approaching Stock as he left the building, firing before vanishing into the city. Johannesburg MMC for Public Safety, Dr. Mgcini Tshwaku, confirmed that Stock had faced multiple threats over his efforts to reclaim hijacked buildings. “We believe that a price was put on his head because of the work he was doing, trying to reclaim that building on behalf of the owner,” Tshwaku said.

Stock had previously obtained five protection orders against known individuals who allegedly threatened him, a testament to the perilous nature of property activism in Johannesburg’s inner city.

Hijacked Buildings: Johannesburg’s Hidden Crime Network

The phenomenon of hijacked buildings has plagued South African cities for decades, forming a lucrative backbone for organised crime. According to Chad Thomas, an organised crime investigator with IRS Forensic Investigations, these buildings have been a revenue engine for syndicates since the 1990s.

“The money that organised crime syndicates can make from slumlord operations is astronomical,” Thomas explained. “They pack in as many tenants as possible, often illegally, while siphoning off water and electricity from neighboring buildings.”

But the financial incentive comes at a deadly cost. Hijacked buildings frequently serve as hubs for human trafficking, drug dealing, prostitution, and as hideouts for violent criminals. Many of these structures are in such disrepair that authorities label them “no-go zones” places too dangerous to enter without heavy protection.

“Many buildings are fire hazards, structurally unsound, and beyond repair,” Thomas said. “Some will ultimately need to be condemned or demolished.”

The Rise of Rogue Security Companies

Efforts to wrest control of hijacked buildings have led legitimate owners to employ private security firms. While some companies have succeeded in safely reclaiming properties, Thomas warns of a dangerous new trend: unregistered “pseudo security companies” exploiting the system for profit.

“These operators often hire unlicensed enforcers, sometimes collaborating with hijackers for protection fees or revenue sharing,” he said. Alarmingly, these groups are gaining access to firearms through loopholes in registration processes, creating a deadly mix of greed and violence.

Social Media vs. Reality

News of DJ Warras’ murder spread rapidly online, with false claims circulating that suspects had been arrested. Gauteng police clarified that no arrests have been made, and investigations continue.

The frenzy underscores the intensity of public concern over the hijacked building crisis. Many Johannesburg residents and social media users have voiced fear and frustration, demanding stronger law enforcement and government intervention to curb organised crime in the city center.

A City at Risk

The killing of DJ Warras is more than a personal tragedy, it is a stark reminder of the systemic dangers plaguing Johannesburg’s inner city. Behind the flashing neon lights and bustling streets lies a shadow economy where lives are expendable, and the pursuit of profit can be lethal.

Experts warn that without decisive action from both authorities and property owners, hijacked buildings will continue to fuel crime networks and claim more lives. DJ Warras’ death, mourned by friends and colleagues across the city, is a tragic marker of this ongoing battle one where bravery and activism come at the highest price.

{Source: IOL}

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com