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Despite five protection orders, DJ Warras was killed in a suspected hit in Johannesburg
A midday shooting that shook the city
Just after noon on Tuesday, December 16, the rhythm of a normal weekday in Johannesburg’s CBD was shattered. Warrick Stock, better known as DJ Warras, was gunned down as he left Zambesi House. CCTV footage later showed a lone suspect, described by investigators as a short man with dreadlocks, approaching Stock before opening fire and fleeing the scene.
Within hours, it was clear this was not a random act. City officials and police began pointing to a far more chilling possibility. This was a planned hit in broad daylight.
Five warnings that could not stop the violence
Johannesburg’s MMC for Public Safety, Mgcini Tshwaku, confirmed that Stock had obtained five protection orders against individuals who had allegedly threatened him. According to Tshwaku, these names are known to authorities and are now part of the active investigation.
Speaking on Newzroom Afrika, Tshwaku said the available video evidence strongly indicates a targeted killing. He explained that Stock had been involved in securing a building to ensure lawful payment and management, work that often puts individuals at odds with building hijackers operating in the inner city.
In Tshwaku’s words, the pattern fits a familiar and dangerous playbook. When illicit income streams are disrupted, violence follows. In this case, officials believe a price was put on Stock’s head because of the work he was doing on behalf of the building’s owner.
Reclaiming buildings comes at a deadly cost
Johannesburg’s inner city has long been a battleground between law-abiding property owners and criminal syndicates who profit from hijacked buildings. Efforts to reclaim these spaces are often framed as urban renewal, but on the ground, they are risky, personal, and increasingly lethal.
Stock’s role placed him directly in that crossfire. Tshwaku confirmed that law enforcement agencies will be questioning the individuals named in the protection orders as the investigation continues.
Political reaction and public anger
The killing drew swift condemnation from across the political spectrum. Herman Mashaba, leader of ActionSA, described the murder as a brutal attack on anyone trying to stand up to crime in Johannesburg’s inner city.
Mashaba said the killers showed no regard for human life and warned that such acts amount to a declaration of war on law-abiding residents. He added that the assassination would not stop efforts to reclaim the city, insisting that intimidation would not derail the broader fight against organised crime.
On social media, many Johannesburg residents echoed that anger. Posts mourning DJ Warras also carried a familiar frustration. Protection orders exist, people noted, but enforcement often comes too late.
A grim reminder for the city
The murder of DJ Warras has become a stark symbol of the risks faced by those working to clean up Johannesburg’s CBD. Five protection orders, official recognition of threats, and yet a fatal outcome in the middle of the day.
As the investigation continues, the case raises hard questions about how effectively the city protects people who take on criminal networks. For many in Joburg, this was not just the loss of a well-known figure but another warning that reclaiming the inner city remains a dangerous mission.
Also read: CCTV Footage Becomes Key as Police Hunt Gunman in DJ Warras Murder
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: ActionSA
