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Jub Jub was 'high on cocaine'
 
Cop opposes bail as crowd threatens two alleged killers
 
 
Gill Gifford, Solly Maphumulo and Sapa, Johannesburg, 17 March 2010
 
Jub Jub was high on cocaine at the time of his crash, as was his co-accused, Themba Tshabalala, who also tested over the legal limit for alcohol.
 
Jub Jub, whose real name is Molemo Maarohanye, and Tshabalala appeared in the Protea Magistrate's Court this morning on four murder charges after they allegedly killed four pupils in a drag-racing accident last week.
 
The hip-hop artist and Tshabalala launched a formal bail application, which the State opposed.
 
Outside court, emotions ran high as throngs of pupils held a vigil. The two entrances to the court were locked and blocked by two Nyalas. Angry pupils rattled the gates despite the heavy police presence.
 
Prisoners meant to appear at the Soweto court warned Jub Jub to "watch out" in Zulu. "Ayeye, Jub Jub, ayeye," they shouted from a prison van near the courthouse, banging on the van from the inside.
 
More than 50 police officers, some with dogs, monitored the scene. A water cannon had been set up and metro police officers patrolled on horseback.
 
There was chaos when Jub Jub's sister, accompanied by friends, arrived at the court at about 10.30am. They were chased by schoolchildren until the police came to their rescue.
 
As court proceedings got under way, investigating officer Inspector Mpho Matshidiso was called to take the witness stand. He said his intention was to oppose any bail application the two accused made.
 
Matshidiso said the incident took place at 3.45pm on March 8 on Mdlalose Street.
 
He said several witnesses were ready to testify having seen the two accused travelling parallel at speed along the road when the car on the wrong side of the road swerved to avoid an oncoming car and hit the car next to it, causing it to lose control and drive into a group of pedestrians.
 
Four were killed and another two were seriously injured and taken to hospital.
 
The first witness, Matshidiso said, would testify that Tshabalala reeked of alcohol.
 
Both accused were taken to Dube Vocational Testing Centre, where they had breathalyser and urine tests. Jub Jub tested negative for alcohol, but the urine test showed positive for cocaine and morphine. Tshabalala's breathalyser test showed positive results for alcohol and his urine tested positive for both cocaine and alcohol.
 
The two were then taken to Chris Hani-Baragwanath Hospital where blood was drawn for further tests.
 
Matshidiso said another witness would testify that Jub Jub stated at the scene that he was not afraid of anyone, and that he walked away from the scene and was later brought back by a black car.
 
Another witness would describe how the two accused appeared to be communicating with one another while racing - something that would be corroborated by yet another witness, the officer said.
 
According to Matshidiso, a witness would testify that angry people had tried to assault Tshabalala on the scene and the two accused had to be put in a police van for their own safety.
 
Matshidiso testified that he had been contacted by people who had said they would "deal harshly" with the accused should they be granted bail.
 
A newspaper photograph of schoolchildren holding a poster proclaiming "You give them bail, we kill them" was entered into evidence.
 
He said Jub Jub lived with his parents in Naturena after a fire at his home a month before the incident. Tshabalala lived with his parents in Diepkloof and managed a liquor store they owned in Soweto. The business had been closed since the incident because of threats of arson.
 
The two injured victims, he said, were unconscious and not responding to treatment.
 
In cross-examining Matshidiso, Maarohanye's attorney, Ike Motloung, said the police and media had had a field day accusing Jub Jub of driving into oncoming traffic. Motloung said Jub Jub had been driving his own grey Mini in the left lane and Tshabalala, in a blue Mini, was in the wrong lane. These "facts" had been distorted to nail Jub Jub.
 
"It suits you to say that, and that is why you switched the incident around," Motloung told Matshidiso, who denied it.
 
While the high-profile case proceeds, several other cases at the court are being delayed. Tebogo Sekano, whose brother was murdered, waited two hours at court. "What makes Jub Jub so important? Is it because he is rich?" she asked.
 
Yvonne Diamond, who was locked out of the court premises despite having to attend a case, said: "This is not fair. Jub Jub must go to hell. Why didn't they take him to a higher court? This court is for the local people. We spent our money on transport to get here, only to be told we must go home."
 
 

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