Jub Jub sobs on stand
2010-03-18 22:43
Miranda Andrew and Kenichi Serino
Johannesburg - Hip hop artist Molemo "Jub Jub" Maarohanye broke down in tears at the Protea Magistrate's Court on Thursday as he spoke about an accident that killed four schoolboys.
"I've never committed a crime. I don't intend to," he said, while tapping the stand with his foot as tears rolled down his face.
"I don't know how much bail I will be able to pay. I'll do anything to get my life back on track," he said in response to questions posed by state prosecutor Liezl van Jaarsveld.
"I've been going through a lot of emotional stress with everything that's been happening. I just need time to be with my family and unborn child. I just want to be alone from everyone."
The artist, in a suit, and his co-accused Themba Tshabalala, wearing jeans and a t-shirt, said they would plead not guilty to the crime.
Relatives burst into tears
Both have denied drag racing or using substances.
"I've worked for the youth, so I was not under the influence of alcohol. I was not under the influence of any substance and I was not drag racing," Jub Jub said softly.
Asked about test results showing he had morphine and cocaine in him, he said: "Anything to do with the tests and accident I will not answer. I've been advised not to comment on that."
"Personally, I do a lot of work for the youth and the Lord Almighty is looking on me right now. I don't feel good," he sobbed.
Some of the victims' relatives in the gallery burst into tears as he spoke.
"I want to send my condolences to the families. Anybody can be involved in an accident. I'm aware that some of them (protestors) are my fans. It was a pure accident."
Van Jaarsveld asked about reports he had been kicked out of the reality TV series Survivor because drugs were found in his possession.
"I really don't know what you guys want to do to me. I know you are doing your job, but please don't do that when the media is here. I was sick in the show. I had jaundice."
'God will protect me'
He said on the day of the accident, March 8, he had picked up a friend and was on his way to his father's butchery, where he met his co-accused.
After leaving the shop, Jub Jub said Tshabalala was following him to Protea Glen where he wanted to show the artist some "equipment".
When the court asked why the pair were driving side-by side on a two-way road, Jub Jub refused to answer, saying only he was on the left of the road.
Van Jaarsveld asked him: "Do you think you will be able to walk outside freely? Do your feel your life is threatened?"
"I will make arrangements. God is my Saviour, God will protect me," he said.
If released on bail, he said he and his family would go far away.
Sick mother, pregnant fiancée
In a statement read out by defence lawyer Mlungiseleni Soviti, Tshabalala pleaded with the court to release him.
He was head of his household, had a gravely-ill mother, a brother in matric and a five-year-old son to look after. He ran his own business after resigning from a bank in 2008.
He made monthly drawings of R9 000 which went towards the household.
"I also have a fiancée, who's eight-months pregnant and is due to give birth shortly. At the time of the accident, I was on my way to fetch her from work. I did not engage in drag racing, murder or intent to murder.
"It was purely an accident and I want to convey my apologies to the families, friends and the public. I intend visiting the families as soon as I am able to.
"I have no previous convictions, no pending cases against me, no relatives outside South Africa, and no passport," the statement read.
If released, he promised not to interfere with the investigations and would abide by bail conditions. He was willing to pay R8 000 bail.
State witness Captain Moses Mogapo, Protea Glen police station branch commander, testified that releasing the pair would jeopardise their lives.
"With what is happening outside, they will not be safe."
He handed a 27-page petition to the court, in which residents from various parts of Soweto said the "perpetrators" should not be granted bail because they would make the streets unsafe.
Another state witness, Nkanyiso Maphanga, assistant police commissioner in Moroka, Soweto, feared for the safety of the accused.
The bail application was postponed for closing arguments and judgement on Friday.
Cigarette sales outside court
Children protesting outside the court's perimeter fence raised their voices in outrage as the postponement was announced by Congress of SA Students (Cosas) provincial chairperson Ntsako Mogobe.
He told the students that they would not stop protesting until Jub Jub was convicted and jailed.
"We are not going back to school until we get our results," he said to cheers.
When a few began throwing stones into the court enclosure, the police pointed their weapons. As the students ran the rubber bullets flew.
The students regrouped as rumours spread that Jub Jub would be moved from court via the entrance with the Protea police station on the other side of the court complex.
Police used a rubber cannon to chase pupils from that entrance while the pupils shrieked and laughed.
They sang struggle songs and shared cigarettes and frozen guava juice. Some enterprising youngsters combined both by selling cigarettes and calling for Jub Jub's punishment.
"Panzi (Down) Jub Jub, panzi; Stuyvesant and Courtleigh's," touted one child in a school uniform holding aloft packs of cigarettes.
Once it was obvious Jub Jub had left the court, the pupils began to leave, helped along by rubber bullets fired from the safety of police Nyala vehicles.
- SAPA