The case against 25-year-old Armindo Joaquim Pacula, the Mozambican national accused of being involved in the murder of popular Johannesburg DJ Warrick “DJ Warras” Stock, was postponed this week as authorities move to verify his immigration status and personal details. Pacula made a brief appearance at the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday, where the matter was formally deferred to February 9.
Pacula is facing a string of serious charges, including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and contravention of the Immigration Act. The State indicated that it is not prepared to consider bail at this stage, citing concerns around the accused’s identity, residence, and legal status in South Africa.
DJ Warras was shot and killed in the Johannesburg central business district on 16 December in what investigators believe was a targeted hit. The killing is reportedly linked to disputes surrounding the operations of a security company involved in work related to hijacked buildings in the city. The late DJ, whose real name was Warrick Stock, was well known in the local entertainment scene and also connected to security-related work, placing his death at the centre of a broader and more complex investigation.
According to police, Pacula was arrested on Friday evening during a crime intelligence operation at the Marathon informal settlement in Primrose, Ekurhuleni. His arrest followed weeks of investigation into the circumstances surrounding Stock’s killing. Prosecutors told the court that several outstanding issues still need to be clarified before the matter can proceed, including confirmation of Pacula’s nationality and travel documents.
State Prosecutor Vincent Mochabela told the court that the State would oppose any bail application. He explained that the accused’s address could not be verified and that no passport had been presented for inspection. “The accused’s address remains unclear, and no passport for verification has been provided,” Mochabela said, adding that these factors increase the risk that the suspect could evade trial if released.
Pacula is not the only person implicated in the case. His co-accused, Victor Majola, 44, is expected to return to court on February 11 after he was denied bail. During Majola’s bail hearing last month, the defence argued that the State had failed to present evidence directly linking him to the murder. However, Mochabela maintained that Majola posed a flight risk and urged the court to keep him in custody, a request the magistrate ultimately granted.
Investigators allege that Pacula was the gunman who carried out the shooting in broad daylight, reportedly in front of several witnesses. Further claims suggest that the murder was carried out for payment, with reports indicating that the total amount allegedly offered for the hit was R25,000, of which Pacula is said to have received only a portion. These details, however, are expected to be tested in court as the case progresses.
The murder of DJ Warras sent shockwaves through Johannesburg’s entertainment and business communities, with many calling for justice and tighter action against violent crime linked to organised disputes. As the legal process unfolds, both accused remain in custody, and the court is expected to hear more about the State’s case when proceedings resume later this month.
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