Joaquim Armando Pacula, the Mozambican national who admitted to shooting DJ and broadcaster Warrick Stock known as DJ Warras for R25,000, was sentenced to 25 years in prison by the South Gauteng High Court on Friday 7 August 2026. Image: Katlego Jiyane/EWN
The man who shot and killed South African DJ and broadcaster Warrick Stock, known as DJ Warras, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. The DJ Warras gunman sentenced development came at the South Gauteng High Court on Friday 7 August 2026. Furthermore, 25-year-old Mozambican national Joaquim Armando Pacula admitted in a plea deal that he pulled the trigger for R25,000. As a result, one chapter in one of South Africa’s most high-profile entertainment murders has closed while the case against the alleged mastermind continues.
What Pacula Admitted and What the Court Decided
Pacula pleaded guilty to four charges. He admitted to murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition and breaking the Immigration Act. The court gave him 25 years for the murder, eight years for the firearm, six months for the ammunition and 12 months for the immigration offence. Furthermore, NPA spokesperson Magaboke Mohlatlole welcomed the sentence. “This sentence reaffirms the NPA’s commitment to ensuring that perpetrators of violent and contract killings are held accountable and that justice is served for the victims and their families,” Mohlatlole said. As a result, Pacula’s criminal proceedings are now over.
The NPA reached the plea agreement after consulting the Stock family. DJ Warras was 40 years old when Pacula shot him dead on 16 December 2025 in the Johannesburg CBD. Stock was outside the Zambezi Building at the time, contracted to oversee a security upgrade at the hijacked building. Furthermore, he was a father of three sons and had built a successful career across YFM, 5FM, SABC1’s Live AMP and his Shady PHodcast. As a result, his death devastated the South African entertainment community and sparked widespread demand for justice.
The DJ Warras Gunman Case: What Happens to the Alleged Mastermind
The alleged mastermind, 44-year-old Victor Majola, remains before the court. Majola faces charges of premeditated murder. Pacula told the court that Majola contracted him to carry out the hit. Police arrested Majola in December 2025 and the court denied him bail in January 2026. The court postponed his case to 17 August 2026 to conclude the pre-trial conference. As a result, a second and more serious chapter of the DJ Warras murder case still lies ahead.
How Police Caught Pacula
Police arrested Pacula in January 2026 during a crime intelligence operation in the Marathon informal settlement in Ekurhuleni. The Gauteng Serious and Violent Crimes Investigations Unit led the arrest alongside Crime Intelligence and Ekurhuleni Metro Police. Furthermore, Pacula told the court in February 2026 that he feared for his life in custody. The court kept him at Modderbee Prison after the threats emerged. As a result, the threats against Pacula reveal how organised the network allegedly behind the killing is.
For more on NPA proceedings visit npa.gov.za.
Editors Note Victor Majola is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. All charges against Majola are unproven and will be tested in court. Joaquim Armando Pacula has been convicted and sentenced following a plea agreement accepted by the South Gauteng High Court. Mzansi Today Live will update this article as further information becomes available.