Online Reporter
The 44-year-old man accused of masterminding the murder of media personality Warrick Stock, popularly known as DJ Warras, has told the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court that he is a self-employed taxi owner with substantial assets worth more than R500,00 and no reason to flee.
Victor Majola made the claims in an affidavit submitted on Tuesday during his formal bail application.
DJ Warras was shot dead on December 16 outside the Zambesi Building in Johannesburg’s CBD.
Majola was arrested last month and faces charges of murder, premeditated murder, and conspiracy to commit murder.
His bail application, which had previously been postponed at the state’s request, resumed on Tuesday, January 13.
In his affidavit, Majola told the court he owns three taxis, has more than 30 cows in KwaZulu-Natal and movable assets worth over R500,000.
He said he earns just over R5,000 a week from his taxi business, though income fluctuates.
“I am self-employed as a taxi owner. I have three taxis registered in my name,” Majola said.
“Some days I make more, sometimes I make less.”
He also claimed to be the sole breadwinner for 12 children, aged between three and 21.
Majola said he was unable to attach all birth certificates to his application because some of the children’s mothers could not be located.
“All of my children rely on me for financial support since I’m the breadwinner at home,” he said.
Majola told the court he does not have a passport, arguing that this significantly reduces any flight risk.
“I submit that I’m not a person who could easily forfeit any bail money,” he said. “There is no likelihood of me evading trial.”
He said police found him sleeping when they arrested him in the early hours of December 22 and that he cooperated fully.
“My address is well known to the state, my family, the community and my colleagues,” he said, adding that he had never been in trouble with the law before.
Majola denied any involvement in the killing and claimed the state had arrested the wrong person.
“I did not kill the deceased, nor was I involved in the planning of his killing,” he said. “This is a case of mistaken identity.”
However, the state strongly opposed bail. Investigating officer Captain Abe Montwedi told the court that several of Majola’s claims were false.
He said an identity parade revealed that Majola has no children and that police could find no taxis registered in his name.
Montwedi also disputed Majola’s claim that he has a fixed address, saying the accused had moved between several locations in Johannesburg and owned no property locally − IOL.
