Jub Jub trial set for October
2010-07-30 15:03
Johannesburg - Five days in October have been set down for the murder trial against hip hop artist Molemo "Jub Jub" Maarohanye and co-accused Themba Tshabalala, the Protea Magistrates Court heard on Friday.
It would take place between October 18 and 22 at the same court.
Before entering the dock, a fluish Maarohanye smartly dressed in a black suit, sat in the public gallery blowing his nose.
A family member sat behind him with a roll of toilet paper on her lap, occasionally handing him a sheet. This happened while proceedings were delayed due to Tshabalala's late arrival.
Tshabalala entered court at about 10:00, wearing a mustard pinstriped suit. He took his seat in the dock but sat far apart from his co-accused, without even greeting him.
The atmosphere after the case was calm and completely opposite from the last appearance when the families of the deceased chased the musician out of court, baying for his blood.
The accused face four murder charges after an accident in March this year which left four school children dead, and two others critically injured.
Parent in Action Trust
Outside court, Thabo Mpesi, a spokesperson for the deceased's families, told reporters that some families had managed to understand what had happened while for the others "the accident was still fresh in their minds".
"Some emotions are still running high and they are finding it difficult to recover.
"We are of the view that reconciliation is necessary and although what has happened is sad, life has to continue," he said.
Mpesi is also a trustee for the newly established Parent in Action Trust (PIAT), set up for the victims' families after the incident.
"The trust was set up because once the dust has settled down the families will be in need of support and after care services."
PIAT hoped to run several campaigns on road safety issues.
"We need to begin to change attitudes when it comes to road safety. It cannot just be the driver that is accountable, it must also be pedestrians."
He said the trust was set up after the funeral of the four schoolboys but noted that they had not received any funding yet. He said the African National Congress had played a part in setting it up.
Reporters heard that PIAT was preparing a memorial walk in memory, not only of the four schoolboys but for other people killed on South Africa's roads.
He said the walk was also to address issues and concerns of the road in which the accident took place.
On June 1, Gauteng Infrastructure Development MEC Nonhlanhla Faith Mazibuko made a similar announcement in her budget speech saying that a pedestrian path and barriers would be constructed on the same road. No protesters were present at court on Friday.
- SAPA