March and March leader blames government for killing of DJ Warras, calls for state of emergency

Leader of the controversial March and March movement, Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, says the government should be blamed for the murder of media personality Warrick Stock, popularly known as DJ Warras.

Ngobese-Zuma made the remarks on Friday during a picket at Durban City Hall in Church Square, where supporters gathered to demand justice and pay tribute to DJ Warras.

Some South Africans have been backing her call for accountability, while others have urged restraint as police investigations continue.

“We have a picket today in memory of DJ Warras and the patriot that he was. We are very saddened by his passing because it speaks to the issues we’ve been talking about since he started March and March, particularly hijacked buildings,” Ngobese-Zuma said.

She said the government must take responsibility for Stock’s death, arguing that crime, hijacked buildings, and illegal immigration had created unsafe conditions.

“If there were no hijacked buildings and no fertile environment for illegal immigrants to come and stay in this country, we wouldn’t be here today,” she said.

Ngobese-Zuma dismissed calls to wait for the outcome of police investigations before assigning blame.

“I hear people saying we must wait for investigations to find out who is responsible for his death. We don’t need to wait for that. He made a lot of people angry and uncomfortable by exposing corruption and crime,” she said, linking hijacked buildings to illegal immigration.

She further claimed that overcrowding in buildings, alleging that tens of thousands of people were housed in single structures, was contributing to lawlessness.

“Our government needs to take responsibility for what happened. We are sad that it has come to this before they could act,” she said.

Ngobese-Zuma called for a state of emergency on illegal immigration, saying it would allow authorities to deploy the South African National Defence Force to clear hijacked buildings and secure the country’s borders.

When asked what accountability she expected from the government, she cited public safety.

“Most importantly, they have made us unsafe in our own country. Killings are happening, people are carrying guns, and criminals cannot be traced because the ground has been made fertile for crime to thrive,” she said.

Ngobese-Zuma leads the March and March movement, which has drawn criticism for its hardline stance against illegal immigration. 

The group has previously blocked foreign nationals from accessing healthcare facilities, arguing that public services are overstretched. 

The government has repeatedly condemned these actions.

“We’re trying to clean this country, but people are bringing in more people. We have a serious problem and there is no willingness from the government to solve it,” she said.

Meanwhile, a memorial service for DJ Warras is under way at The Galleria (M1 Place, 10 Eastern Service Road) in Marlboro, Sandton. 

Family members, friends, industry colleagues and senior officials are attending to pay tribute to the late radio and television personality.

DJ Warras was shot dead in the afternoon as he was leaving a building. 

Police said video footage shows a short man with dreadlocks approaching him, opening fire and fleeing the scene.

Gauteng police have denied widespread reports that three suspects were taken in for questioning. 

Police spokesperson Captain Tintswalo Sibeko said no arrests had been made and that investigations were continuing.

“There is no suspect taken for questioning or arrested. The investigation is continuing,” Sibeko told IOL News.

The clarification followed a flurry of online claims and reports, that three people had been questioned in connection with the killing - claims later dismissed by police.

IOL News