The courtroom fell into a tense hush yesterday when Victor Mthethwa Majola, the man accused of playing a central role in the brazen daylight murder of beloved South African DJ Warrick Stock (DJ Warras), finally spoke publicly for the first time since his arrest. Standing before the magistrate during his bail hearing, Majola looked directly at the bench and delivered three words that reverberated through the packed gallery: “I am innocent.”

The statement — calm, measured, and unwavering — came after months of silence from the 34-year-old suspect, who has been held in custody since shortly after the December 16, 2025 killing outside Zambesi House in Johannesburg’s CBD. Warras was shot multiple times in front of shocked witnesses, with CCTV capturing a gunman wearing dreadlocks fleeing the scene on foot. Majola was arrested days later, charged with premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and possession of an unlicensed firearm.

In a dramatic turn during the bail application, Majola addressed the court directly, insisting he has been framed, misidentified, and dragged into a crime he did not commit. “They are lying about me,” he said, voice steady despite the gravity of the charges. “I was not there. I did not pull any trigger. I did not plan anything. This is a mistake, and I want to prove it.” His legal team argued that the state’s case rests entirely on circumstantial evidence and unreliable witness testimony, with no forensic link placing Majola at the scene — no fingerprints, no DNA, no murder weapon recovered.

Prosecutors, however, painted a very different picture. They presented CCTV stills showing a man matching Majola’s build and clothing near the crime scene minutes before and after the shooting, phone records placing his device in the vicinity, and an eyewitness who claims to have seen Majola speaking to the shooter shortly beforehand. “This was not a random act,” the lead prosecutor stated. “It was planned, coordinated, and executed with precision. The accused may not have pulled the trigger, but that does not mean he is innocent of murder.”

The state’s case hinges on the theory that Majola acted as a facilitator or lookout, allegedly motivated by a long-standing dispute involving Warras’s vocal activism against building hijackings — a criminal enterprise that has plagued Johannesburg for years. Warras had publicly called out syndicates on his radio show and social media, making powerful enemies in the process.

Majola’s defense team countered aggressively, calling the evidence “weak, contradictory, and circumstantial at best.” They highlighted inconsistencies in the eyewitness description (the shooter had dreadlocks; Majola does not), the lack of direct forensic ties, and the fact that phone data only places him in a broad area, not at the exact scene. “My client is being scapegoated because the police need a quick arrest,” his attorney argued. “There is no gun, no shot fired by his hand, no single act of violence proven. This is not murder — it is a rush to judgment.”

The bail hearing was adjourned until next week to allow both sides to submit further affidavits. Magistrate Thandi Mokoena has reserved judgment on whether Majola will be granted bail, citing the seriousness of the charge and community safety concerns.

Outside court, Warras’s family and supporters gathered in silence, holding signs reading “Justice for Warras” and “No More Silence.” DJ Warras was remembered as a voice for the voiceless — a man who used his platform to fight corruption and uplift communities. His death has left a void in South African entertainment and activism.

For Majola, yesterday’s declaration of innocence was his first chance to speak publicly. Whether the court believes him or the state’s mounting circumstantial case remains to be seen. One thing is clear: the DJ Warras murder case — once seemingly straightforward — has entered its most volatile and controversial phase yet. With confessions retracted, evidence questioned, and public confidence slipping, the truth feels further away than ever.

As South Africa watches, the haunting question lingers: is this the voice of a wrongly accused man fighting for his freedom… or the calm denial of someone caught too late?