Four killed in reality star's deadly dice

2010-03-08 23:24

Daniëlla du Plooy and Sapa

Johannesburg - Four teenagers still dressed in their school clothes were killed on Monday when they were run over by two Mini Coopers dicing in the streets of Soweto. Three friends were also injured.

One of the cars was driven by the musician Jub Jub (real name Molemo Maarohanye), who was a participant on Survivor SA: Santa Carolina.

Kay Ma-khubela, police spokesperson, said the two Mini Coopers were dicing in Mdlalose Street between Protea North and Protea Glen at about 16:00.

"It's a two-way street and one of the cars was in the wrong lane, facing oncoming traffic. They were driving next to each other," said Edna Mamonyane, Johannesburg metro police spokesperson.

When a car approached from the front, the Mini in the oncoming lane swerved back into the left-hand lane.
                                                                                                                              
Apparently the one Mini bumped the other one, causing it to roll, said Makhubela.

Four boys, aged between 17 and 19, were walking with friends on the pavement when they were hit by the cars.

The four died at the scene. Three of their friends were taken to hospital with serious injuries, including multiple fractures and head injuries.

Drivers arrested

The two drivers were only slightly injured. They were arrested on charges of culpable homicide and reckless or negligent driving.

The mother of one of the boys' was inconsolable at the scene on Monday evening.

Emergency service workers picked her up and carried her away from the scene.

A shocked crowd gathered at the scene. A fire engine and a number of police officials were there as well.

Both wrecks lay in a ditch alongside the road. The one car was so badly damaged that it was difficult to believe anyone made it out of the wreck alive.

The children's school bags were lying on the side of the road.

Three of the boys who died were pupils at the Jules High School in the Johannesburg CBD, and the other was a pupil at Altmont High School in Protea North.

Makhubela said the two drivers will appear in court as soon as they have been treated.

Non-existing charity

Jub Jub, a rapper, hip hop musician and TV presenter, was recently in the news over allegations that he had represented a non-existing charity while participating in Survivor SA.

Each Survivor participant had to choose a charity organisation which would receive R500 000 if that participant were to win. But the organisation would still get a smaller amount if the participant was voted out or, like Jub Jub, decided to leave the series voluntarily. He left for medical reasons.

Jub Jub's chosen charity was the Ithutheng trust, a school managed by his mother, Jaqueline Maarohanye, also known as Mama Jackey.

According to reports, the trust ceased to exist last year.

M-Net said earlier that they were investigating the allegations.