INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS

Molemo "Jub Jub" Maarohanye at his murder trial at the Protea Magistrate's Court. Photo: Matthews Baloyi

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COURT-2ND-LD-PROTEA

JOHANNESBURG Feb 22 Sapa

JUB JUB PASSENGER SPEAKS

(SUBS: NOTE LANGUAGE IN PAR 9)

A passenger in a car crashed by musician Molemo "Jub Jub" Maarohanye told the Protea Magistrate's Court on Wednesday that he "drove carefully" prior to a fatal accident.

Tumelo Mukoka, who described himself as Maarohanye's business associate and a friend, said, "It's 1/8Mdlalose Drive 3/8 a 60km/h zone and he drove carefully."

Mukoka was testifying in Maarohanye's defence in the murder trial of Maarohanye and co-accused Themba Tshabalala.

They allegedly ploughed into a group of school children while racing their Mini Coopers along Mdlalose Drive between Protea North and Protea Glen on March 8, 2010.

Four of the children were killed and two others severely injured.

The two face charges of murder, attempted murder as well as reckless and negligent driving while under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

Mukoka, led by defence lawyer Ike Motloung, said as he and Maarohanye drove up Mdlalose Drive they could see metro police officers ahead.

He said they were driving along the route with Tshabalala in his blue Mini Cooper behind them.

Mukoka said as they drove along, Maarohanye suddenly uttered the word "shit" and at the time he did not understand what that was for.

He said he then suddenly saw Tshabalala in the right lane as he quickly tried to return to the left lane.

He said he then heard a bang and their car rolled once.

Mukoka said he did not know what had happened to Tshabalala's car which had three occupants at the time.

He told the court he was helped out of the wreckage through a damaged sunroof by a metro police officer.

Mukoka said he then pulled Maarohanye out before going to check what had happened at the scene.

The case briefly adjourned due to bad weather interfering with the court's audio recording system before it was postponed to February 29.

Sapa

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