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Maarohanye spent his second night in prison last night, while on the outside the news media and the talk on radio were dominated by the sad demise of what could have been an exemplary life.

Though many might feel sorry for "Jub Jub" and Tshabalala, we dare not lose sight of the fact that far too many people in this country fall victim to the mayhem on our roads.

During every holiday season the nation is sadly regaled with statistics of road deaths that make a mockery of the countless campaigns mounted to curb the carnage.

People are killed and maimed on the roads because of the selfish acts of people like Maarohanye.

Today, the families of Andile Mthombeni, Mlungisi Cwayi, Phomello Masemola and Prince Mohube, who were killed by Maarohanye and Tshabalala, are still grappling with the loss, two years later.

Two other families - those of Fumani Mushwana and Frank Mlambo - have been trying to nurse children back to health. Fumani is brain-damaged. Those are the players that deserve our sympathy as this sad tale continues to unfold.

As we await the sentencing of Maarohanye and Tshabalala we hope the court will slap them with the kind of penalty that will ram the message home to those who think little ofdicing with lives on our roads.

Authorities, especially the previous minister of transport S'bu Ndebele, must be commended for advocating and making sure that tougher laws and sentences were passed to help root out this lawlessness.

Today, roadhogs of Maarohanye's ilk face serious charges of murder and attempted murder, instead of the lesser one of culpable homicide for reckless and negligent behaviour behind the wheel.

Cape Town taxi driver Jacob Humphrey is serving an effective 20-year term for the murder of 10 children who died in a crash he had caused with a goods train last year.

Two similar cases are pending in KwaZulu-Natal, one involving a taxi driver who thought it wise to make a U-turn in the middle of a highway, and killed 10 people in the process. It is this kind of madness that leaves us wondering, and doubting even, whether SA roads will ever be safe.

Safe enough for parents to release their children into the streets without any fear, in the knowledge that there won't be some madcap waiting to maim and kill out there.

Comments

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Sat May 25 08:12:50 SAST 2013 ::

Oct 18, 2012

Mellow

Many are just feeling sorry for jubjub not sure why cause there's tshabalala there as well, they dont even think about the families of the deceased or those 2 poor kids who are still struggling to this day after this ordeal

Getting 20yrs for 10 lost lives is a serious fck-up not good enough and soon he'll be out on parole while the families of this kids will never heal
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Oct 18, 2012

Flemza

There is no story here , what is the writer of this story talking about , whats this
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Oct 18, 2012

warry

Sowetan leave Jub Jub alone. Are you trying to make the nation hate him. The guy committed a crime and judged by court of law, and then what. Do you really have to stoop that low. Come on. Jub Jub will find peace and be forgiven and forgive himself while your journalists are chasing old stories that donor educate educate the nation. Haai Suka maan, sevile NGO Jub Jub. All will be well sonny. It was the state against you not the families of the victims. Please ask forgiveness from God, ur family and forgive yourself ultimately God will extend his hand to the victim's families and forgive you. It's possible. Our history taught us so.
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Oct 18, 2012

eltybots

the writer presented it right to the point and clear that everyone should be accountable for their actions.We should be feeling sorry for the brain dead kid ,young lifes taken. he got wat he deserved long term imprisionment
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Oct 18, 2012

Knoxmann

@ Flemza
The editor is simply saying that we should respect and obey the rules of the road as road users nothing more nothing less.
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Oct 18, 2012

Capegal

Ya true, very true!! that is a lesson to all motorists to drive safely and with caution coz you ended up a criminal.
u will be singing mama, mama i just hit n killed 4kids, now i 'm criminal, criminal. pls judge gimme minimum sentence...
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Oct 18, 2012

madimetsha

@Warry, the purpose of the article is to comprehend, after the hoooha about the case settled, the real issue, using Jub Jub case as an example as well as those who drive recklessly, this is 1 thing the ANC gov has done ryt, changing road accidents death to murder instead of culpable homicide, many people die on our roads each year.....from reckless driving, people just overtaking without seeing hardly 10 meters ahead, drinking and driving, unsafe overspeeding, crossing the railway while the train is coming,, those are just irresponsible acts which needs to be punished...this is not about jub Jub, but about all the holigans out there.......
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Oct 18, 2012

madimetsha

I feel sorry for the innocent kids who were coming from school , not walkingin the middle of the road, but on the roadside, and someone who was high on something just ran them over, killed some, cripple some, brain damaged some.......dont feel sorry for this pathetic excuse of a man....
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Oct 18, 2012

Seja-Bana

damn sowetan, are you gonna update us on what is happenning to him in jail. we don't want to hear that. come on give us something constructive, send us a riddle. difficult once so that we can get our brains working
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Oct 18, 2012

MorenaWaPolelo

Mellow
warry
+++++++++++++++
why do feel sorry for a convited killer, ke eng naa le mo file cake????
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