By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court has denied Victor Majola bail in the murder case of slain media personality Warrick “DJ Warras” Stock.
Majola appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
He is accused of orchestrating and being involved in the murder of Stock.
Stock was fatally shot on 16 December outside a building near the Carlton Centre in Johannesburg’s Central Business District (CBD).
During the bail proceedings, Majola told the court that he should be released pending trial, insisting that he is not a flight risk and has no reason to evade justice. He testified that he is a self-employed taxi owner with assets, strong community ties and dependants, and denied any involvement in the murder.
Majola further argued that the case against him was weak and based on assumptions, claiming that he had been wrongly implicated.
The State opposed bail, arguing that Majola poses a risk to the administration of justice and could interfere with witnesses if released. Prosecutors told the court that there is evidence linking him to the planning of the murder, including CCTV footage and witness statements placing him near the crime scene on the day of the killing.
Delivering her judgment, magistrate Annelise Tlhapi ruled that Majola is a flight risk and could interfere with witnesses or endanger public safety.
The magistrate found that Majola does not have a fixed address.
“The applicant submitted two conflicting addresses,” she said.
She found that the video provided by Majola is unreliable and may have been edited.
“What I have noted from the video footage, it is not clear. It is blurry and blacked out,” she remarked.
The magistrate further highlighted that Majola’s alibi was not tested in court. She, therefore, rejected his bail application. The case has been postponed to 11 February for further investigations.