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RAPPER CRIES IN DOCK

UNDER GUARD: Hip-hop artist |Molemo Maarohanye arrives under4 police escort at the Protea magistrate's courtg yesterday. Pic. Mohau Mofokeng. 18/03/2010. © Sowetan.
UNDER GUARD: Hip-hop artist |Molemo Maarohanye arrives under4 police escort at the Protea magistrate's courtg yesterday. Pic. Mohau Mofokeng. 18/03/2010. © Sowetan.

MOLEMO "Jub Jub" Maarohanye was yesterday overwhelmed by emotions and cried when he testified during his bail application in the Protea magistrate's court.

"When I woke up that morning I did not know that I would be involved in a car accident. It was purely an accident. I send my condolences to the bereaved families, and may the deceased's souls rest in peace."

The 30-year-old hip-hop star said if he were to be granted bail he would relocate to a place where he would spend quality time with the mother of his unborn child. "I am expecting a child any time from now," he said.

Newspaper reports have linked Jub Jub to heavily pregnant singer Kelly Khumalo.

Maarohanye said on the day of the accident he went to Protea to meet his friend Tumelo.

"We met at my father's butchery but decided to go somewhere else. Themba (Tshabalala, his co-accused), whom I knew through my friend Mpumelelo Vezi, decided to follow us," he said.

Maarohanye said he was driving on the left when the accident happened.

He said he would plead not guilty to the charges.

Maarohanye and Tshabalala are charged with four counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder, one count of reckless and negligent driving and one count of driving under the influence.

The state alleges that Maarohanye tested positive for cocaine and morphine but negative for alcohol. Tshabalala tested positive for alcohol. His blood alcohol level was 0,40 mg/ 100ml.

But Maarohanye denied that drugs were found in his urine. "I was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs," he said.

The men were allegedly dicing last Monday afternoon in Mdlalose Street, in Protea, Soweto, when they ploughed into seven schoolchildren who were walking home from school.

Four of the boys, Andile Mthombeni, Prince Mohube, Mlungisi Cwayi and Phomello Masemola, were killed.

Tshabalala submitted his written affidavit, in which he indicated he would plead not guilty.

Earlier, the state called two senior police officers who testified that releasing the men on bail would endanger their lives.

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