Remembering DJ Warras: the proud Zulu man and media personality
MOURNERS pay their last respects to the murdered DJ Warras at the Requiem Mass at the Rosebank Catholic Church of Immaculate Conception in Johannesburg, on Tuesday, December 23.
Image: ITUMELENG ENGLISH Independent Newspapers
WARRICK STOCK, popularly known as DJ Warras, who was gunned down on Reconciliation Day in the Johannesburg CBD, was deeply proud of his Zulu heritage.
This was revealed by Gagasi FM head Alex Mthiyane during an interview with East Coast Radio. The late DJ worked at the Umhlanga-based regional commercial radio station.
“He would say, ‘Actually, I am a Zulu man. Yes, I am coloured, but there is Zulu in me,’” Mthiyane said.
Mthiyane also revealed that when Warras joined Gagasi FM, he expressed a desire to host a maskandi show that would resonate with young people in KwaZulu-Natal.Former 5FM colleague Catherine Grenfell said she struggles to put into words the immense sense of loss.
She described Warras as exceptionally talented and a devoted father to his sons.Warras’ best friend and co-anchor on The Shady PHodcast, Phind’Gcobe “DJ PH” Madubela, described him as “crazy in a good way.”
“He was a loving father who worked at YFM and 5FM and had been podcasting for the past two years. He had a sharp strategic mind and was involved in several ventures, including security. It’s hard to speak about him in the past,” Madubela said.
DJ PH added that Warras was never shy about tackling difficult or controversial topics on social media.Warras, 40, hailed from Vryheid in KwaZulu-Natal and was gunned down near Carlton Centre.
He was born in Durban on November 27.
PALLBEARERS wearing umqhele (traditonal Zulu headband) at DJ Warras' Requiem Mass at the Rosebank Catholic Church of Immaculate Conception on Tuesday, December 23.
Image: X
He joined Johannesburg-based YFM in 2008, presenting the graveyard shift. In 2011, he secured the 12pm slot, presenting Prime Mode.
The following year, he moved to the 6pm show, Undisputed.That same year, he co-presented SABC1’s Live Amp alongside Metro FM’s Luthando “Loot Love” Shosha.
Known also by the moniker The Shady Lurker, Warras moved to 5FM in 2014, where he co-hosted The 5th Element with Tumi Voster.
In 2016, he presented three seasons of SABC3’s The Man Cave. In 2019, he co-presented a drive-time show on Gagasi FM with Nomalanga Shozi.At the time of his death, Warras was presenting Ngicel’ iVisa on Mzansi Magic, which began airing in October on Tuesday nights.
Warras' Requiem Mass was held at the Rosebank Catholic Church of Immaculate Conception in Johannesburg. He will be cremated at a private ceremony on Christmas Eve.
True to his Zulu heritage his sons and pallbearers wore umqhele (traditional Zulu headband made of cow hide, leopard hide or fur, depending on the person's station in life).