“I Love This City, But It’s Being Destroyed” — Late DJ Warras’ Haunting Message on Johannesburg CBD Resurfaces

I Love This City, But It’s Being Destroyed

Johannesburg-CBD-A heartfelt social media post from popular DJ and media personality Warrick Stock, known as DJ Warras, has resurfaced following his tragic murder, striking a deep chord with South Africans. In the July 2025 post, he stood alone on a quiet Johannesburg CBD street, surrounded by closed shops and rundown buildings, captioning it: “I LOVE THIS CITY!  So sad to see how it’s being destroyed. By people who don’t give a fk about preserving it.” This powerful image and words, once a simple cry for his beloved city, now carry a haunting weight after his senseless killing on 16 December 2025. For many who knew him as The Shady Lurker—a bold voice on radio and TV—the post reflects his passion for Johannesburg and his frustration with its decline. As the nation mourns a talented son gunned down while trying to reclaim hijacked buildings, his message sparks fresh talks on urban decay, safety, and the need to save the heart of the City of Gold.

The Resurfaced Post: A Visual Cry for Johannesburg

The photograph shows DJ Warras standing in the middle of an empty CBD street, hands in pockets, gazing ahead with a mix of love and sorrow. Behind him, shuttered storefronts, faded signs, and crumbling facades tell a story of neglect. Posted on 27 July 2025, it captured a moment when the usually busy area felt deserted, highlighting the slow erosion of Johannesburg’s once-vibrant core.

His words were raw and direct: “I LOVE THIS CITY!  So sad to see how it’s being destroyed. By people who don’t give a fk about preserving it.” Fans at the time liked and shared it, agreeing with his pain over litter, crime, and abandoned buildings. Now, after his death, the post feels prophetic—a final plea from someone actively fighting to fix what he saw breaking. It has gone viral again, with thousands reposting it as a tribute, turning his personal lament into a national reflection on what Johannesburg has lost and what it could regain.

DJ Warras’s Deep Connection to Johannesburg

Warrick Stock moved to Johannesburg from Durban to chase his dreams, falling hard for the city’s energy and opportunities. As DJ Warras, he became a fixture on stations like YFM and 5FM, hosting shows that mixed great music with honest chats about life in Joburg—from its nightlife highs to street-level struggles. His TV gigs on Live Amp and other platforms made him a go-to voice for youth culture, always rooted in the city’s pulse.

Beyond entertainment, he poured love into action through JT VIP Protection Services, focusing on evictions to reclaim hijacked buildings in the CBD. On the day he died, he was overseeing one such operation near Carlton Centre, a spot not far from where his photo was taken. This work showed his commitment to preserving Johannesburg, fighting the very decay he lamented in his post. Friends remember him as someone who saw beauty in the chaos and worked to protect it, making his words ring even truer now.

The Broader Crisis: Urban Decay in Johannesburg CBD

Johannesburg’s inner city has faced years of decline, with many buildings hijacked by syndicates who rent out rooms illegally, leading to overcrowding, poor maintenance, and crime. Once a shopping and business hub with icons like Carlton Centre, the CBD now struggles with empty streets after hours, litter, and safety fears that drive people away. Property owners abandon structures due to rates or disputes, creating voids filled by criminal elements.

This decay fuels a cycle: businesses close, jobs vanish, and residents feel unsafe. Efforts to revive it include city clean-ups, private security, and reclamation projects like those DJ Warras joined. Yet progress is slow, with red tape and threats slowing reclaimers. His post captured this frustration, blaming a lack of care from those who could make a difference—owners, officials, or occupiers profiting from neglect.

DJ Warras’s murder—gunned down in daylight while doing eviction work—has amplified his message, turning personal grief into a wider call for change. South Africans are sharing his photo, asking how a city he loved could claim his life. It sparks debates on gun violence, gang control of buildings, and the risks for those fighting decay.

Community leaders and businesses push for more police patrols, better lighting, and faster court processes for evictions. Some call for incentives to bring offices and shops back, reviving foot traffic and pride. DJ Warras’s words inspire this: love for Johannesburg means active preservation, not just complaints.

His loss, at 40, cuts short a voice that celebrated the city’s spirit while calling out its flaws. Fans mourn not just the DJ but the activist who walked the talk.

Honouring DJ Warras: A Legacy of Love and Action

As tributes flow, DJ Warras’s post stands as a lasting reminder: cities thrive when people care. Memorials and playlists honour his music, while his business efforts inspire others to reclaim spaces safely. For Johannesburg, it is a wake-up call—preserve what makes it special, or lose more bright lights like him.

In a nation reflecting on reconciliation, his story bridges personal passion with public good, urging all to love their cities enough to fight for them. Rest in power, DJ Warras—your message lives on.

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Before he was killed, DJ Warras had received five clear warnings that his life was in danger. Five protection orders had been issued to safeguard him from threats related to his work reclaiming hijacked buildings and confronting criminal syndicates. Despite these warnings, he continued his work, protecting others and fighting for Johannesburg’s CBD — but in the end, those threats tragically became a reality.