Bail on hold as butchery CCTV may show Majola at DJ Warras murder

The Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court is expected to rule on whether CCTV footage allegedly showing Victor Majola, the alleged mastermind behind the murder of popular media personality Warrick Stock, well-known as DJ Warras, at the crime scene, should be presented and played in court.

The court postponed the bail application of Majola to Thursday, after ordering that video footage from a butchery near the crime scene be produced in court.

The directive was issued by Magistrate Annalise Tlhapi as murder accused Victor Majola continued with his bail application on Wednesday, January 14. 

The footage, which was previously handed to police for forensic analysis, forms part of the state’s evidence in the case.

Tlhapi ruled that the video footage must be submitted and viewed in court before a decision is made on Majola’s bail application. 

She further instructed investigating officer Captain Abe Montwedi to urgently contact the owner of the butchery to determine whether a fresh copy of the footage could be obtained directly from the business. 

Tlhapi said this was necessary to avoid possible delays and chain-of-custody concerns associated with SAPS forensic offices in Pretoria.

Majola’s lawyer, Dumisani Mabunda, told the court that access to the footage was critical for the defence, warning that failure to disclose it could prejudice his client and undermine the fairness of the bail proceedings.

Montwedi later informed the court that the owner of the butchery had said the footage was only retained for 10 days and had since been deleted after it was initially handed over to police.

The court said it would consider how the footage should be handled and whether it would be admissible before ruling on the bail application.

Majola, 44, faces charges of murder, premeditated murder and conspiracy to commit murder in connection with the killing of DJ Warras, who was shot dead on December 16 outside the Zambesi Building in Johannesburg’s central business district.

Majola was arrested last month following an investigation into the shooting. Montwedi told the court that police were close to finalising the case and that further arrests were imminent.

“I know who the shooter is. I will not mention his name, but I will arrest him,” Montwedi told the court.

He said that the suspect would be arrested once outstanding forensic examinations were completed.

Montwedi also testified that police planned to arrest Majola’s girlfriend, Hlengiwe, whom investigators allege played a role in events leading up to the murder. 

He said she had previously threatened DJ Warras and was involved in a dispute at the Zambesi Building, where she was a tenant.

According to the state, DJ Warras’ security company had been contracted to provide services at the building. 

Investigators allege that Majola, Hlengiwe and others were illegally collecting rent from tenants and failing to pay it over to the rightful owner.

The dispute allegedly dates back to 2018, after the building’s original owner died and the property was inherited by his son. 

Rental income reportedly dropped from more than R700,000 a month to about R400,000.

DJ Warras and his business partner were later appointed to assist with managing the property, a move that angered those allegedly involved in illegal rent collection, Montwedi said.

On the day of the murder, Montwedi testified that Majola was seen near the building shortly before the shooting and was later identified in an identity parade. 

He warned that Majola posed a flight risk and could interfere with witnesses if released on bail.

Majola, who described himself as a self-employed taxi driver and father of 12, denied the charges in an affidavit, saying police had arrested the wrong person.

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

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