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'I had to swerve to avoid the Mini'

FACING THE MUSIC: Molemo 'Jub Jub' Maarohanye, seen here with Chris Matshaba, North West FM presenter and also Jub Jub's manager, outside the Protea Magistrate's Court during their murder trial. PHOTO: MOHAU MOFOKENG
FACING THE MUSIC: Molemo 'Jub Jub' Maarohanye, seen here with Chris Matshaba, North West FM presenter and also Jub Jub's manager, outside the Protea Magistrate's Court during their murder trial. PHOTO: MOHAU MOFOKENG

A MINIBUS driver, testifying in the murder trial of Molemo "Jub Jub" Maarohanye and co-accused Themba Tshabalala, yesterday described how he had to swerve to avoid colliding with one of the cars.

Benjamin Maseko, who was driving a white minibus that was carrying 12 Grade R pupils, told the Protea Magistrate's Court that he had to evade the blue Mini Cooper driving towards him and in the process hit the kerb on Mdlalose Street in Soweto.

Maarohanye was driving a silver-grey Mini Cooper and Tshabalala a blue Mini Cooper.

Maarohanye and Tshabalala are on trial on four counts of murder, two of attempted murder, driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, and reckless and negligent driving.

They are alleged to have been drag racing while high on drugs and drunk on Mdlalose Street on March 8 2010.

Maseko, from Yeoville in Johannesburg, said: "I ferry children from Rosettenville. The children are from Protea North and Protea Glen. I had just dropped off the children from Protea North and was proceeding to Glen, driving on a street that links the two.

"I do not know the name of the street but there is another name I've heard it being referred to [after the accident]. They call it 'Jub Jub Avenue'," said Maseko to an outburst of laughter from the court gallery.

He said as he turned left into "Jub Jub Avenue", he was stopped at a road block. "As I was going down the road . there was a grey Mini Cooper facing me. It was going towards Protea North," said Maseko, adding "No, it was not in my lane," when asked for clarity.

"Just as we were about to pass each other, another blue vehicle approached. It appeared to be overtaking the grey one. I was not even aware that there was a blue car there. I swerved to the left and hit the kerb. The manner in which it approached, it seemed to be coming fast," Maseko said.

He said nothing had indicated to him that the vehicles were racing. He said none of the children "were hurt but they were traumatised".

Maseko's version was however different from that of state witnesses Maki Ndlovu and Nono Mabote, who testified that when a white minibus (Maseko's) approached from the opposite direction, the silver Mini Cooper, which was travelling in the right-hand lane, swerved into the left lane and collided with the blue one.

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