A former prisoner has gone viral online after sharing a personal account of his time behind bars with South African media personality and musician Molemo “Jub Jub” Maarohanye.
Ex-prisoner says Jub Jub inherited reputation from his mother’s status
Speaking on The Agenda Network in an episode aired on Monday, 19 May 2025, the unnamed ex-inmate described Jub Jub as one of the most respected and feared people in prison.
Jub Jub served four years, one month, and one day in prison after being convicted of culpable homicide. This followed a 2010 drag racing incident that resulted in the deaths of four schoolchildren and injuries to two others.
He was originally found guilty of murder and attempted murder, but his conviction was later changed to culpable homicide, which means causing someone’s death without planning to kill them.
Describing Jub Jub’s prison life, the ex-prisoner said the musician lived very differently from the average inmate.
“Jub Jub was a well-guarded man in jail. Even when he was resting in bed, there was always a sign written ‘Please Don’t Disturb’. No police officer would dare wake him up,” he said.
“That guy was living a good life in jail. So, I don’t want them to keep lying about Jub Jub saying, ‘Jub Jub this. Jub Jub that.’ Those are all lies. That guy was big in prison.”
He suggested that Jub Jub’s influence inside prison was partly due to his mother, the controversial Soweto school principal, Jackie “Mama Jackie” Maarohanye.
According to the ex-inmate, her status and reputation made people treat Jub Jub with a high level of respect and caution.
Mama Jackie is a well-known figure in South Africa, both for her past work as head of the Ithuteng Trust and for her legal troubles.
In 2006, she was involved in a case where she and two others were accused of kidnapping and assaulting a former student. She was later found guilty of kidnapping.
Mama Jackie has faced multiple charges over the years, some of which were withdrawn or led to acquittals.
Once praised as the “angel of Soweto,” her public image has shifted due to the serious nature of the allegations against her.
Jub Jub, released on parole in January 2017, has remained in the spotlight, garnering notoriety for his Uyajola 9/9 show. In late 2023, the show’s host was slapped with a set of criminal charges. These included rape, kidnapping, and assault. His legal team has argued at the time that the allegations were not true, and after several court appearances, the National Prosecuting Authority withdrew the charges in mid-2024.
Watch The Agenda Network‘s episode that’s gone viral below:
