The murder case of Warrick “DJ Warras” Stock has been postponed to April 1, 2026 to allow further investigations, with the accused appearing side by side in court for the first time.
Taxi boss Victor Mthethwa Majola and Mozambican national Armindo Joaquim Pacula briefly appeared together in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, February 11, where they face charges of premeditated murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
Prosecutor Vincent Mochabela informed the court that investigators require additional time to prepare the matter. The assassination is suspected to be linked to hijacked buildings in Johannesburg’s inner city.
On Monday Pacula, described by the State as an undocumented Mozambican national, indicated his intention to negotiate a plea agreement. During proceedings, he requested not to be detained at Johannesburg Prison, commonly known as Sun City, citing concerns for his safety.
Speaking to the media, Mozambican Consul-General in Johannesburg, Guilherme Tamele, confirmed that the consulate has not yet met with Pacula and is in the process of verifying his identity and citizenship.
“We are still clarifying his identity to reconfirm or to confirm what is most significant. So that is a process that we are following right now. We will find out who he is, where he is coming from, how he came to South Africa, where he was living, and all other relevant details,” Tamele said.
He added, “We will have to ask, you know, if he is coming from Mozambique, where he is coming from, how he crossed the border into South Africa, what he was doing, and all those details that might help us cooperate with the South African authorities based on the information that we might collect from him.”
Tamele emphasised the consulate’s trust in the South African legal system: “I said in my statement that we have taken note of these proceedings and that we trust this matter will be handled with fairness, with due diligence, and according to South African law. So, if he intends to plead guilty, of course, the law must take its course.”
Meanwhile, Majola, who has appeared in court several times, was last before the court on January 26, where his defence argued that the State had failed to present evidence directly linking him to the crime.
In a statement, Phindi Mjonondwane, NPA Regional Spokesperson, said: “The State opposed bail, submitting that the accused was likely to evade trial. The State further noted that Majola’s alibi could not be tested, as he elected not to testify in court. In her ruling, the magistrate cited concerns that the accused had provided conflicting residential addresses, could potentially intimidate witnesses known to him, and posed a flight risk. Majola will remain in custody until his next court appearance.”
anita.nkonki@inl.co.za
Saturday Star