Jailed hip-hop star Jub Jub to be released soon

Jailed South African hip-hop star Molemo “Jub Jub” Maarohanye is likely to be released on parole as early as next year. Maarohanye will be considered for parole when he completes half of his sentence in December.

Correctional Services spokesman Singabakho Nxumalo confirmed that the award-winning musician will be considered for parole in December.

“In terms of DCS (Department of Correctional Services) policy, an offender does not apply for parole but will automatically be considered for possible placement on parole once a certain portion of the sentence has been completed. In this case, the offender will be considered after completion of half of the sentence which is at the end of 2016,” he said.

Nxumalo said officials would first consult with the families of the victims and solicit their opinions before releasing Maarohanye on parole.

“In the meantime, it is important to note that consideration for placement does not guarantee approval of parole as various factors play a role in the consideration process. Consultation with victims and outcomes of victim/offender mediation are also important factors which are taken into consideration.”

Speaking to Sunday World from his Protea Glen house, Phumolelo Masemola, whose son Phomello was one of the school kids who died in the accident, said he would agree to Jub Jub’s release if the muso apologised first for killing his son.

“If he can come here and apologise to me and my wife, I will maybe agree that he be released on parole. This man didn’t show remorse for what he did. He didn’t even look at us when he was in court for this case. I’m so tired of this issue I want to move on with my life,” he said.

Masemola alleged that he conveyed the same message to correctional services officers who asked him if he would agree for Maarohanye to be released on parole about two years ago.

Masemola’s sentiments were echoed by Nomagugu Mohube, whose younger brother Prince was also killed in the crash.

“This man never said sorry for what he did. How can he be released without coming to us and ask for forgiveness for killing my brother. He must come here first and apologise. Otherwise he must just forget it. My mom lost her job because of this accident. She suffered heart diseases as a result of my brother’s death and she is unable to work again,” she said.

But unlike the other parents, Nosandise Cwayi, whose son Mlungisi also died in the crash, said she was opposed to Maarohanye’s parole and would not forgive him.

“He must rot in jail. But if the government wants to release him, they can do so. He didn’t bother to apologise for what he did. His father owns a butchery just across the street, he too didn’t even bother to apologise on his behalf. His mother said she didn’t have time for street kids, so our children were street kids who deserved to be killed . I don’t need his apology and he must stay there for the rest of his life,” said Cwayi.

Maarohanye and his friend Themba Tshabalala were convicted of four counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder in 2012.

But the convictions were converted to culpable homicide and their sentences reduced from 25 years to 8 years imprisonment each.

The sentences were backdated to October 2012 when the pair was first sentenced and jailed.

They crashed their Mini Coopers into a group of schoolboys in Protea North, Soweto, on March 8 2010. Four boys – Prince Mohube, Mlungisi Cwayi, Andile Mthombeni, and Phomello Masemola – were killed. Frank Mlambo and Fumani Mushwana were left permanently brain damaged. Sunday World