Ex-cop testifies in Jub Jub trial

2011-05-23 15:23

Johannesburg - A former police officer took the stand in the case against murder-accused Molema Jub Jub Maarohanye and Themba Tshabalala in the Protea Magistrate's Court on Monday.

The case was then postponed until Tuesday when a third witness will take the stand.

Ex-police officer Renton Tsego was cross-examined on Monday. He was the police officer who received the results from the metro police officers who had tested Maarohanye and Tshabalala for drugs and alcohol.

He received the documents and put them away in the safe, he testified. That was his only involvement.

Tsego was briefly asked questions by the State prosecutor and the defence lawyers.

Metro police officer

Earlier in the day defence lawyer Ike Motloung said metro police officer Constable Velemina Mojela who had testified was hiding something.

Mojela had testified that she had arrived at work at 18:55 and drug and alcohol tests on Maarohanye and Tshabalala were completed by 18:15.

Mojela had brought the log book from the day of the accident to court with her.

She said she had not checked at what time she started the drug and alcohol tests but had recorded the time they were completed.

Mojela explained to the court how the drug and alcohol tests were taken and what apparatus was used.

Motloung was cross-examining her on her evidence given in terms of the timeline in which tests were done on Maarohanye and Tshabalala.

The evidence was to prove that the two men had tested positive for drugs and alcohol.

Cross-examination

Family members of the children killed in the accident showed apparent frustration with Motloung's question.

Motloung said Mojela was contradicting herself as he cross-examined her.

State prosecutor Raymond Mathenjwa objected to Motloung's line of questioning as he said it was not relevant.

Maarohanye and Tshabalala were allegedly drag-racing when one of their Mini Coopers ploughed into a group of schoolchildren on Mdlalose Drive in Protea North on March 8, last year.

Four children were killed in the accident and two others suffered severe injuries that included brain damage.

Maarohanya and Tshabalala are facing charges of murder and attempted murder and driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

- SAPA