Passenger cross-examined in Jub Jub trial

2012-05-07 14:31

Johannesburg - State prosecutor Raymond Mathenjwa cross-examined eyewitness Mphumelelo Vezi in the murder trial of musician Molemo "Jub Jub" Maarohanye and his co-accused Themba Tshabalala in the Protea Magistrate's Court on Monday.

Vezi was a passenger in Tshabalala's car when he allegedly collided with Maarohanye's car in Soweto on 8 March 2010.

Vezi told the court the left rear of Tshabalala's blue Mini Cooper had hit the right rear of Maarohanye's grey Mini Cooper.

"I did not see it, but I felt it and I heard it... The bang was loud but not very loud. I was sitting on the left rear of the blue car, where the bang was," he said.

Questioned about his initial statement, Vezi said that when he used the term "swerve" to describe what Tshabalala did it was incorrect because Tshabalala moved back into his lane.

Second mistake

"So you are now conserving the second mistake in your evidence," Mathenjwa said. Vezi replied: "There is always room for error."

Photographic evidence in court showed the petrol cap, paint, window and the tyre were intact on the left rear of Tshabalala's blue Mini Cooper.

Mathenjwa asked: "Do you see any corresponding damage to the loud bang you heard?"

"No," replied Vezi.

Mathenjwa then asked him to match the damage to the cars on photographs.

"I don't know how you want me to answer that. I heard a loud bang... I heard a bang on the side of the car," said Vezi.

Mathenjwa asked: "What you heard, is it supported by the evidence?"

"No, sir," Vezi replied.

He told the court that when he went to make his statement he was chased away by a police officer. He later informed Maarohanye's mother of the incident.

"I met her and felt that she needed to know what was going on because her son was involved... I feel that everyone deserves to know the truth," he said.

Family friend

In response to questions, he told the court that Maarohanye's lawyer, Ike Motloung, was known to him and his family.

Vezi said this was the reason he had wanted Motloung to accompany him to the police station to make his statement.

"Ike [Motloung] is a close friend of the family. He is like a financial adviser to my father," Vezi told the court.

"He was going to advise me. He would know who to talk to from the legal aspect."

Vezi told the court that Tshabalala and Maarohanye knew each other through him.

In March, Vezi told the court that Tshabalala was responsible for the 2010 crash that claimed four lives.

Tshabalala and Maarohanye were allegedly drag racing in Mdlalose Drive, in Protea North, Soweto, when one of their cars ploughed into a group of school pupils.

Vezi told the court that Tshabalala had tried to overtake Maarohanye while a minibus taxi was approaching about 40m in front of them.

Maarohanye and Tshabalala are on trial for murder, attempted murder, and driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

The trial continues.

- SAPA