DJ Warras murder case | Alleged mastermind denied bail

The alleged mastermind in the DJ Warras murder case, Victor Majola has been denied bail by the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court.

The 44-year-old faces charges of premeditated murder and conspiracy to commit murder, in connection to the fatal shooting of the popular DJ in the Johannesburg CBD in December last year.

Warras, whose real name was Warrick Stock, was shot and killed outside the Zambesi Building near the Carlton Centre. He was approached by three suspects, who fled the scene on foot after the shooting.

Handing down her ruling on Monday, Magistrate Annelise Thlapi found that Majola failed to demonstrate exceptional circumstances that would justify his release on bail, ruling that his continued detention was in the interests of justice.

The magistrate said Majola was likely to flee upon release and could pose a threat to public safety.

Disputed CCTV footage emerged as a central issue during the bail proceedings.

The defence argued that CCTV footage captured by a nearby butchery does not place Majola at the scene at the time of the shooting. However, the State maintains that it has separate CCTV evidence allegedly linking him to the suspected gunmen both before and after the murder.

The court heard that the CCTV material is currently undergoing forensic analysis at the South African Police Service laboratory in Pretoria.

Magistrate Thlapi also rejected a video clip submitted by the defence, describing it as unclear, unreliable and potentially edited.

The clip, which had been circulated by a media outlet, was previously viewed in court but dismissed by the State, which argued that it does not correspond with the footage in police possession.

The matter was postponed to 11 February 2026 for further investigation, with Majola remaining in custody until his next court appearance.

Written by: Lebohang Ndashe