The South African Police Service (SAPS) has appealed to anyone with information regarding the murder of prominent DJ and entertainer Warrick Stock, known by fans as DJ Warras, to come forward.
Warras, according to police, was fatally shot in Johannesburg Central on Tuesday after being ambushed by three unknown suspects who opened fire on him shortly after he parked his vehicle. The suspects fled the scene on foot, according to state media SABC.
Gauteng Police Spokesperson Tinstwalo Sibeko said the motive for the shooting remains unclear.
“No arrest has been made yet, and the investigation is underway. Anyone with information that may assist with the investigation may contact Crime Stop Line,” says Sibeko.
High-profile murders
The killing of DJ Warras adds to a list of high-profile murders involving entertainers in South Africa, cases that have drawn national attention and raised questions about violent crime.
Reggae legend Lucky Dube was shot and killed during an attempted hijacking in Johannesburg in 2007, a case that drew international attention.
More recently, award-winning rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes was gunned down outside a restaurant in Durban in 2023, a murder that shocked the country and led to a complex, ongoing investigation.
These cases have highlighted the vulnerability of public figures and the broader challenges facing law enforcement in tackling violent crime.
Family appeal
Meanwhile, the family of the late DJ Warras has called for privacy following his tragic death. His sister, Nicole Stock, has appealed to the public to refrain from sharing videos or images of the deceased's remains, saying this is an incredibly difficult time, particularly for Warras’s children.
Speaking from the scene, Nicole Stock made an emotional plea: “People who are tweeting or posting videos, please, please, I am pleading with all of you to remove them. He’s got three beautiful boys. If you can take that off, we don’t want that.”
Warras, born in Durban in 1985, was a well-known radio and television personality in South Africa. He built a prominent career in broadcasting and remained a familiar voice and face across the entertainment industry. His death has sent shockwaves through the entertainment community and among fans nationwide.
