The criminal case against television personality and musician Molemo Maarohanye, popularly known as “Jub Jub”, has been postponed to 7 September after he failed to appear before the Germiston Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said a warrant of arrest was issued after Maarohanye failed to attend court because of alleged ill health. The warrant has, however, been held over until his next appearance.
The NPA said the State is ready to proceed with the prosecution and will continue to deal with the matter in accordance with the law.
Maarohanye faces charges of discharging a firearm in a public place and pointing an object likely to lead a person to believe that it is a firearm.
The charges arise from an incident involving an e-hailing driver in Edenvale on 14 June 2026.
Police previously alleged that the driver had dropped off a female passenger at a residence when Maarohanye confronted him, accusing him of having a romantic relationship with his girlfriend.
According to police, the situation escalated, and the driver was allegedly forced into Maarohanye’s vehicle and prevented from leaving. Police further alleged that a firearm was discharged in the direction of the driver, who managed to escape unharmed and reported the incident at a nearby police station.
Maarohanye was arrested on 14 June and initially faced charges including kidnapping, unlawful discharge of a firearm and defeating the ends of justice.
However, the NPA subsequently clarified that the charges before the Germiston Magistrates’ Court were discharging a firearm in a public place and pointing anything likely to lead a person to believe that it is a firearm.
During the investigation, police searched Maarohanye’s residence and seized a pellet gun, according to the NPA.
Maarohanye approached the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg on an urgent basis following concerns over delays in bringing him before the Germiston Magistrates’ Court. The High Court granted him bail of R5,000 on 16 June.
He subsequently made his first appearance in the Germiston court on 22 June, when the matter was postponed to 24 August to allow investigators to complete further investigations.
Maarohanye has denied the allegations and previously described the case as fabricated. His lawyer has also disputed the State’s claim that a pellet gun was recovered from his home.
Monday’s missed appearance adds another development to a case that has attracted significant public attention because of Maarohanye’s high profile and previous encounters with the criminal justice system.
In 2012, Maarohanye was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted of four counts of murder following a 2010 drag-racing crash in Protea North, Soweto, that killed four schoolchildren. He was also convicted of two counts of attempted murder, as well as offences relating to driving under the influence of drugs and racing on a public road.
The murder convictions were later overturned on appeal in 2014, with the High Court finding Maarohanye and his co-accused, Themba Tshabalala, guilty of culpable homicide instead. Their sentences were reduced to 10 years, with two years suspended.
More recently, in 2024, the NPA withdrew rape, attempted murder and assault charges against Maarohanye after reviewing the police docket, the prosecutor’s report and representations submitted by his defence.
The prosecution said at the time that there were no reasonable prospects of a successful prosecution. The charges related to allegations involving four complainants and offences allegedly committed between 2006 and 2009.
The latest case remains before the Germiston Magistrates’ Court, with Maarohanye due back in court on 7 September.
NPA Gauteng Division Johannesburg communications officer Magaboke Mohlatlole said the State was ready to proceed and remained committed to ensuring the matter was dealt with fairly and in accordance with the law.
