In a moment that reduced an entire room to silence and tears, Ethan Stock, the eldest son of the late Warrick “DJ Warras” Stock, delivered a heartbreaking tribute at his father’s memorial service on December 19, 2025, in Sandton, Johannesburg.

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Standing bravely alongside his two younger brothers, the teenage Ethan battled emotions as he honoured the man he called his hero, rock, and inspiration.

The service, held at The Galleria Conference and Expo Centre, drew hundreds of mourners—including family, friends, colleagues like Sizwe Dhlomo and DJ PH, and figures from the entertainment industry—to celebrate the life of the outspoken media personality gunned down on December 16 in Johannesburg’s CBD.

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Warras, 40, left behind three young sons, his mother, and siblings, and the senseless nature of his death—linked to his work reclaiming hijacked buildings—hung heavily over the gathering.

Ethan, the last speaker, painted a vivid picture of a father far removed from his public persona. “My father was my hero, the person I look up to, my inspiration, my rock and my foundation,” he said, voice trembling.

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He described Warras as someone who “spoiled us, loved everyone, and treated everyone with respect,” always acting with “pure love” and never placing himself above others. Despite the controversies that often surrounded his father’s bold opinions on podcasts and social media, Ethan emphasised the private man: a devoted dad who was “the life of the party,” the “brightest light in every room,” and always present for guidance, illness, or hardship.

Flanked by his brothers, Ethan vowed to carry on the legacy: “My dad’s legacy will live through me and my little brothers, and I will do everything in my power to make him proud.” He also expressed hope for justice, a sentiment echoed throughout the service amid calls for action against crime.

Other tributes highlighted Warras’s fearless voice against corruption, his mentorship in broadcasting, and his role in shows like Live Amp. His sister Nicole declared he “belonged to a nation,” while colleagues recalled his unifying spirit and big personality.

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Family, friends and colleagues pay tribute to DJ Warras at …

Actress Pearl Thusi, a former co-host, spoke emotionally, supported by her daughter Thando, adding to the raw grief on display.

As mourners later moved to a celebration of life event, Ethan’s words lingered—a poignant reminder of the personal devastation behind a public tragedy. In stripping away the icon, he revealed simply a father stolen too soon, leaving children to navigate a world without their unwavering protector. The nation, moved by a son’s unfiltered pain, mourns not just a voice on the airwaves, but a family forever changed.