Popular South African DJ Warras Gunned Down in Johannesburg CBD: Police Hunt Three Suspects in Suspected Targeted Hit

By Crime Desk December 18, 2025

Johannesburg – In a brazen daylight assassination that has shocked the nation, popular radio DJ, TV presenter, and activist Warrick Stock, better known as DJ Warras, was fatally shot in the Johannesburg central business district on Tuesday afternoon. The 40-year-old media personality was ambushed by three suspects shortly after parking his car near the iconic Carlton Centre, opposite Zambezi House – a building plagued by hijacking issues.

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Warrick Stock, popularly known as DJ Warras, in a recent portrait.

Gauteng police spokesperson Captain Tintswalo Sibeko confirmed that the victim was approached by the assailants, one of whom opened fire before the trio fled on foot. “The motive for the shooting is currently unknown. No arrests have been made yet, and the investigation is underway,” Sibeko stated, urging the public to come forward with information. Acting Provincial Commissioner Major General Fred Kekana added that CCTV footage captured a short man with dreadlocks as the primary shooter, who approached Stock and fired multiple shots. Cartridges were recovered at the scene, and police are tracking the suspects’ movements.

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Information emerges about discoveries made by DJ Warras, security team at hijacked building

DJ Warras, known for his outspoken views and work in entertainment and security.

Emerging details paint a picture of a possible targeted hit linked to Stock’s activism against building hijackings in Johannesburg’s decaying inner city. Through his private security firm, Imperium Security, Stock had been contracted to secure Zambezi House, implementing biometric access controls and assisting with rent collection and evictions. Johannesburg MMC for Public Safety Dr. Mgcini Tshwaku revealed that Stock had obtained five protection orders against occupants of the building, citing genuine death threats. “We believe a price was put on his head because of the work he was doing, trying to reclaim that building,” Tshwaku said.

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[WATCH] Family and friends of the late DJ Warras gather at the scene where he was shot in Carlton Centre, Johannesburg CBD. @NqobileMadlala_ reports from Joburg CBD. #Newzroom405 | Newzroom Afrika | …

The Carlton Centre area in Johannesburg’s CBD, near the site of the fatal shooting.

Stock, a former 5FM producer and host of Mzansi Magic’s Ngicel’ iVisa, was vocal about urban decay, crime, and controversial topics. He leaves behind three young children. In a family statement released Wednesday, his sister Nicole described the incident as “traumatic” and appealed for privacy: “This senseless act has left us devastated. Warrick was a devoted father, son, and brother. He spoke about many things, including controversial topics – let us focus on what he stood for: kindness, positivity, and uplifting others.” The family also urged social media users to refrain from sharing graphic images of the scene.

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Tragic irony: DJ Warras killed days after joking about his own death

Another image capturing DJ Warras’s vibrant personality.

Tributes poured in from across the entertainment and political spectrum. Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie expressed outrage: “DJ Warras spoke his truth without fear. He was against building hijackings and loved this country.” ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba called the murder “an attack on law-abiding South Africans fighting crime in the CBD.” Build One SA’s Mmusi Maimane described it as a “brazen murder in broad daylight, a shock to all South Africans.”

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CrimeStop #MySAPSApp The South African Police Service (SAPS) Provincial Serious and Violent Crime unit in Gqeberha has opened a murder investigation following a fatal shooting incident that occurred on 13 August 2025

South African police at a typical crime scene investigation.

The killing underscores Johannesburg’s ongoing crisis with hijacked buildings, often controlled by syndicates involved in illegal rentals, drugs, and intimidation. Stock’s death has reignited calls for stronger enforcement against urban decay. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi emphasized the need to take protection orders seriously.

As police scan CCTV and follow leads, including questioning individuals named in the protection orders, the nation mourns a fearless voice silenced amid South Africa’s relentless battle with violent crime – where murders average over 60 per day.