‘Broken heart but not backing down’ – Mashaba after DJ Warras murder

Mashaba

Johannesburg – ActionSA president Herman Mashaba has issued an emotional and forceful response following the killing of Johannesburg-based DJ and activist Warrick “DJ Warras” Stock.

He said the murder has strengthened his party’s resolve to confront crime, illegal occupation of buildings, and political leadership failures in the city.

Stock was shot dead in a suspected targeted attack in Johannesburg’s CBD on 16 December.

The killing has sparked widespread political fallout, with Mashaba accusing Democratic Alliance federal chairperson Helen Zille of contributing to the deterioration of Johannesburg after his removal as mayor.

In a statement shared on social media following the murder, Mashaba said he went to bed “with a broken heart and very low spirits”, questioning why people were being killed for attempting to improve their communities.

“I find it hard to understand why we are being brutally murdered for loving our country and people,” Mashaba said. “Why this government has allowed our country to be taken over by heartless criminals?”

He directly addressed those he believes are responsible for DJ Warras’ death, stating, “Those murderers who pulled the trigger that killed DJ Warras and their faceless masters, we are eventually going to find you.”

Mashaba blamed years of governance failure under the ANC, particularly in Johannesburg, saying criminal syndicates were allowed to flourish while residents suffered.

“I blame the ANC government for allowing our City of Joburg to be taken over by criminal syndicates over the years while the city has the highest housing backlog in the country. Our people live in squalor in squatter camps around the city,” he said.

In a separate statement, ActionSA said DJ Warras was actively involved in tackling crime linked to hijacked buildings in the CBD and described his killing as “heinous” and “brutal”. According to ActionSA, the murder was an attack on “law-abiding South Africans who stand up against crime and work to reclaim our communities from destructive elements.”

Mashaba also criticised civil society organisations and political parties that oppose stricter action on illegal immigration, saying the issue could no longer be avoided. “All these so-called lawyers for human rights, NGOs, the SA Human Rights Commission and political parties for fighting any South African prepared to fight this abnormal, illegal immigration — we have to face each other to correct this,” he said.

He reserved some of his strongest criticism for Zille, linking her to his removal as mayor during what he described as a stable coalition government. “Last and more importantly, Helen Zille for plotting my removal as mayor while running a very stable coalition government at the time. My sin was my unwavering commitment to provide services to poor areas as well,” Mashaba said.

Mashaba has repeatedly argued that his departure disrupted the Inner City Rejuvenation Plan, which aimed to reclaim hijacked buildings through private-sector partnerships and stronger law enforcement.

Mashaba said DJ Warras’ death would not deter ActionSA, but instead intensify its political ambitions ahead of the next local government elections. “DJ Warras’ death is not going to be in vain. ActionSA has now been steered into a higher gear to get the mandate of Joburg residents to take over the mayoralty,” he said.

He warned criminal networks and those occupying buildings illegally that they would face removal under ActionSA leadership.

“Illegal immigrants occupying these buildings must just pray to their gods that ActionSA does not get enough votes to lead the city. Under ActionSA leadership, they are not welcome until every South African has a decent roof over their heads,” Mashaba said.

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Compiled by Lisabeal Nqamqhele

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