The Tragic Death of DJ Warass: A Tale of Jealousy, Murder, and South Africa’s Systemic Failures
On December 15, 2024, a beloved South African music icon was gunned down in Johannesburg’s central business district, marking yet another shocking chapter in the country’s violent crime saga.
DJ Warass, a prominent figure in South Africa’s house and quato music scenes, was shot and killed in broad daylight, sending shockwaves through the music industry and the entire nation.
What makes this tragedy even more chilling is the revelation that the mastermind behind his assassination wasn’t physically present at the scene.
Instead, he was locked away in a South African prison, orchestrating the murdєr from behind bars using nothing more than a cell phone.
This story isn’t just about the murdєr of an artist; it is a reflection of the darker side of the South African justice system, where jealousy, obsession, and a lack of prison oversight led to a tragic loss of life.
The Life and Legacy of DJ Warass
Fabiskotti, better known as DJ Warass, rose from humble beginnings in South Africa’s townships.
His passion for music ignited at the age of 14 when he first touched turntables at his cousin’s wedding.
From that moment, it was clear to those around him that he had a gift.
By 16, he was sneaking into clubs with fake IDs and playing sets at some of Johannesburg’s hottest venues.
His career skyrocketed from there, as he honed his craft and developed a unique sound that blended traditional South African rhythms with contemporary house beats.
DJ Warass became synonymous with the Bikardi House genre, a sound that would change the landscape of South African dance music.
DJ Warass wasn’t just a DJ; he was a mentor and a guiding light for younger artists in the industry.
He opened doors for many, sharing knowledge and opportunities with those who were just starting.
His music had the power to transport listeners into a trance-like state, and his sets were known for their technical precision and energy.
His work was revered, and his following was immense.
But despite his success, DJ Warass faced the same pressures that many South African artists do—financial instability and a corrupt system that preyed on their talent.
The Fatal Day and the Murder
On August 21, 2016, DJ Warass was shot and killed in his driveway in Sashingov, a suburb of Johannesburg.
The attack occurred after a routine gig, and though it appeared to be another random violent act in South Africa’s crime-ridden streets, the truth behind the murdєr was far more calculated.
As DJ Warass stepped out of his vehicle, two men, having tracked his every move for days, emerged from the shadows and opened fire.
Multiple shots were fired in rapid succession, and Warass collapsed on the pavement, bleeding out before help could arrive.
His family found him minutes later, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
What made the murdєr even more sinister was the revelation that the person behind it wasn’t physically at the scene.
The mastermind was locked in a South African prison—Cat Matt Lala.
His obsession with DJ Warass’s relationship with his ex, Lorado Chabalala, led him to plot and execute the murdєr from behind bars using a contraband cell phone.
The Toxic Love Triangle and Cat Matt Lala’s Jealousy
Cat Matt Lala, whose real name was Mgalli Model Hail Mat Lala, was a man with a violent history and a significant criminal network operating in Johannesburg’s underworld.
Before his incarceration, Lala was involved in various criminal enterprises, and prison didn’t diminish his influence.
In fact, it gave him more time to stew in his jealousy, especially regarding his ex-girlfriend, Lorado Chabalala, who had moved on with DJ Warass.
Lala’s obsession with Lorado became the driving force behind the plot to kill DJ Warass.
From his prison cell, Lala used contraband cell phones to communicate with his associates on the outside, orchestrating the hit that would end Warass’s life.
Lorado had tried to move on from the toxic relationship with Lala, finding stability and respect with DJ Warass.
But Lala couldn’t accept her moving on, and he saw Warass as a threat, someone who had to be eliminated for his own sense of ownership over Lorado.
The jealousy turned deadly, and Lala orchestrated the murdєr with chilling precision.
His ability to carry out such a plot from behind bars exposed one of the most significant failures in South African prisons—the ability of inmates to continue their criminal activities despite being incarcerated.
The Use of Contraband Cell Phones in South African Prisons
One of the most disturbing aspects of this case is how Cat Matt Lala was able to carry out the murdєr from within a South African prison.
The proliferation of contraband cell phones in South African correctional facilities has long been a problem.
These phones allow inmates to continue running criminal enterprises, including coordinating murdєrs, drug trafficking, and witness intimidation.
In Lala’s case, the cell phone became his tool of control, enabling him to orchestrate the murdєr of DJ Warass, track his movements, and maintain communication with his criminal network on the outside.
South Africa’s Department of Correctional Services has acknowledged the issue of contraband cell phones, but efforts to control the flow of these devices have been inconsistent.
Corrupt prison guards, visitors, and even drones are used to smuggle phones into prisons.
Lala’s access to a cell phone in prison allowed him to continue his criminal activities, including plotting the murdєr of DJ Warass.
The fact that this was allowed to happen demonstrates the dangerous weaknesses within South Africa’s prison system.
The Investigation and The Evidence
After the murdєr, investigators quickly zeroed in on Cat Matt Lala as the mastermind behind the plot.
They traced phone records and financial transactions that connected him to the crime.
Cell phone records showed numerous calls between Lala’s contraband phone and known criminals on the outside.
These calls increased dramatically in the days leading up to the murdєr, showing clear coordination.
Financial records revealed that money was transferred to the hitmen involved in the murdєr.
The evidence gathered from Lala’s phone and his associates painted a damning picture of how the plot was orchestrated.
The hitmen themselves, hired by Lala, were not professional assassins, but street-level criminals who operated within Johannesburg’s underworld.
They were motivated by the promise of payment, and Lala’s connections made it easy for him to recruit them for the job.
The surveillance of DJ Warass was methodical, with the hitmen tracking his movements, identifying his vulnerabilities, and planning the execution.
The actual murdєr was quick and brutal, executed in a way that left no time for Warass to defend himself or flee.
The Role of Lorado Chabalala and the Emotional Toll
Lorado Chabalala, the woman at the center of this tragic love triangle, was devastated by the murdєr of DJ Warass.
She had tried to move on from her toxic relationship with Lala, but his obsessive jealousy reached out from behind bars to destroy her new life.
Lorado’s testimony played a crucial role in the investigation.
She revealed the threats Lala had made against Warass, including explicit threats of violence if she didn’t end her relationship with him.
The emotional toll of this case on Lorado is immeasurable.
She had to live with the knowledge that her ex had orchestrated the death of the man she loved.
The trauma of losing DJ Warass, coupled with the realization that Lala’s jealousy had led to the murdєr, added another layer of pain to her already difficult life.
Lorado had been a victim of emotional abuse and manipulation, and she now had to live with the consequences of Lala’s actions.
The Larger Pattern of Violence Against South African Artists
DJ Warass’s murdєr is tragically not an isolated incident.
South Africa has witnessed a disturbing rise in violence targeting entertainers, particularly musicians and public figures.
Over the past five years, South Africa has lost numerous musicians, actors, and media personalities to violent attacks.
The motives behind these killings vary, but one common thread is the vulnerability of public figures in South Africa’s violent society.
Many artists in South Africa, despite their fame, live precarious lives, struggling with financial instability, exploitation, and the lack of proper security measures.
They are often forced to navigate an industry that does not provide the protections they need, leaving them exposed to violence and crime.
DJ Warass, despite his success, was no exception.
He was vulnerable to the same pressures and dangers that many artists in South Africa face.
The Failure of the South African Justice System
The murdєr of DJ Warass and the subsequent investigation revealed significant flaws in South Africa’s justice system, particularly in terms of how law enforcement handles cases involving public figures.
The fact that Lala was able to orchestrate such a plot from behind bars demonstrates a failure of the correctional system to maintain control over inmates and prevent them from continuing their criminal activities.
The widespread issue of contraband cell phones in South African prisons allows criminals to maintain connections with the outside world, making it nearly impossible to neutralize their influence.
Moreover, the investigation into DJ Warass’s murdєr faced significant obstacles, including the reluctance of witnesses to come forward due to fear of retaliation.
In South Africa, law enforcement struggles to protect those who cooperate with investigations, especially when powerful figures are involved.
The fact that the case is still unsolved and that suspects have yet to be fully held accountable speaks volumes about the challenges the justice system faces in addressing crimes of this nature.
The Call for Reform
The tragic death of DJ Warass has sparked renewed calls for reform in South Africa’s justice and prison systems.
The public outcry over his murdєr and the involvement of Cat Matt Lala has highlighted the need for better protection for artists and public figures, as well as a more secure prison system that can prevent inmates from continuing their criminal activities.
There is also a growing demand for greater accountability within law enforcement and the judicial system, with calls for stronger protections for whistleblowers, better witness protection programs, and more transparent investigations.
The case has also reignited discussions about the need for broader societal change, including addressing toxic masculinity, intimate partner violence, and the ways in which women are treated in South Africa’s cultural and social systems.
Lorado’s experience and the manipulation she endured at the hands of her abusive ex-partner serve as a reminder of the urgent need for stronger protections for victims of domestic violence.
The murdєr of DJ Warass is a tragic reminder of the deep-rooted problems within South Africa’s justice system and society.
It exposes the dangerous intersection of obsession, criminal networks, and systemic failure, as well as the vulnerabilities that public figures face in a society plagued by violence and corruption.
DJ Warass’s legacy, however, goes beyond his music.
His death has become a rallying point for reform, demanding better protections for artists, stronger accountability within law enforcement, and a cultural shift that rejects violence and control.
