Former 5FM and Cliff Central producer DJ Warras was gunned down in Johannesburg on Tuesday afternoon.
Former 5FM presenter and Cliff Central jock Warrick Stock, aka DJ Warras, has been shot and killed this afternoon.
Superintendent Xolani Fihla of the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) confirmed that a shooting incident had occurred.
“The department can confirm a shooting incident that happened this afternoon in the Johannesburg CBD. JMPD officers were first respondents to the incident when they were stopped by members of public who alerted them to the shooting,” he said.
In a statement, the South African Police Service (Saps) confirmed that it was investigating the incident.
“Saps is investigating a murder case after a 40-year-old man was fatally shot in Johannesburg Central on Tuesday, 16 December.
“It is alleged that the victim was approached by three unknown suspects after parking his vehicle, and they opened fire at him before fleeing the scene on foot.
“The motive for the shooting is currently unknown. No arrest has been made yet, and the investigation is underway,” police stated.
VIP protection rivalries
Chad Thomas of IRS Forensic Investigations said that “it’s bizarre how many celebrity DJs have been shot and killed in South Africa the past few years”.
Today’s murder of DJ Warras adds to the list which includes DJ Sumbody and DJ Vintos.
He added that the DJ also had an interest in a security company, ostensibly supplying VIP protection. Stock’s company was purportedly contracted to provide security for several buildings in the CBD.
“Security companies are being bought up by a myriad of operators, some for nefarious purposes such as private militias with access to legitimate weapons for illegitimate purposes.
“In the VIP protection space, security companies are vying for lucrative contracts protecting wealthy businessmen and celebrities, but we are seeing more instances where so-called VIP protection companies are being used to settle business disputes, an issue prevalent in the taxi industry where more and more taxi bosses are buying up security companies to fight proxy wars with rivals,” said Thomas.
The media personality, who has recently been in the news for controversial comments about Cat Matlala and Rachel Kolisi, was gunned down in front of the Carlton Centre in Johannesburg.
Gunned down
Conflicting reports at this time note that DJ Warras is in a critical condition while others said the shooting was fatal.
DJ Warras’ friend Rob Hersov shared the news on X on Tuesday, calling it a murder.
“He was murdered today Johannesburg. I just want to say he is the most loving, compassionate, friendly, honest, open, decent human being, and it is a tragedy beyond belief.
“Warras, we love you, we miss you, may you rest in peace, brother,” Hersov posted.
Tributes have started pouring in from music industry personalities. The Kiffness speculated about the incident and wrote on X: “Apparently he was managing security at a building where they were getting illegal occupants out. He walked out after a standard check in and a vehicle drove past and shot at him. Terrible.”
Das Simon Lapping was disgusted by the news. “We live in a mafia state,” he said. A week ago Witness D in the Madlanga Commission, Marius van der Merwe, was gunned down in front of his family in Brakpan.
DJ Warras was still posting on X four hours ago. This was his final post.
