It’s hard to believe the wide-eyed little boy in a cooldrink TV commercial 20 years ago is the same guy who’s now in so much trouble.
Talented, good-looking and ambitious, hip-hop star and Survivor SA contender Jub Jub seemed to have the world at his feet. Now, three months shy of his 30th birthday, his future could not be more uncertain.
He might even spend the rest of his life behind bars if he’s found guilty of murdering four boys who died in an accident described by police as one of the most gruesome they’ve ever seen.
Katleho Nkomo and Phindile Matlebula, both Grade 12 learners at Tetelo Secondary School, witnessed the carnage when two street racers collided and mowed down the schoolboys on the long straight road from Protea Glen to Protea North in Soweto.
The drivers were allegedly Jub Jub and his friend, Themba Tshabalala, who runs a bottle store.
Both were tested for alcohol and only Tshabalala was found to be over the legal limit, reports say. Allegedly traces of drugs were found in both men.
Phindile says she and Katleho were walking down the road when they saw the accident. “It happened very quickly but we know Jub Jub’s car because we see it so often,” she begins. “He was driving his charcoal Mini Cooper very fast in the lane for oncoming traffic and racing this guy in a blue Mini Cooper. He tried to overtake the blue Mini but another car was coming and he crashed into the blue Mini, which went spinning into the bush. We both rushed towards the accident.”
Bodies were lying everywhere, along with scattered schoolbags, shoes and items of clothing.
“Jub Jub got out of his car and stood in the middle of the road,” Katleho says. “You could see he was very shocked. He started to walk towards the bodies but he stopped and just stood there. Luckily the police arrived about five minutes later and called the ambulances.”
Dead at the scene were Andile Mthombeni, a Grade 11 pupil at Altmont Technical High School in Soweto, and Phumelelo Masemola (Grade 10), Prince Mohube (Grade 10) and Mlungisi Cwayi (Grade 12), all learners at Jules High School in the city. Fumani Mushwana (16) and Frank Mlambo (17), who both attend Altmont, were badly injured and are fighting for their lives in hospital.
Meanwhile the tide has turned violently against Jub Jub (29). The mood at the accident scene turned ugly and later enraged crowds hurled stones and threatened the two men when they arrived for their first appearance at Protea Glen magistrate’s court.
They were remanded until 17 March when they’re expected to apply for bail.
But it seems Jub Jub might be safer behind bars, given the swelling tide of anger against him.
*See YOU this week (18 March issue) for interviews with the family and a timeline of Jub Jub’s rise to fame and his fall from grace.