Jub Jub's family fall apart
Jailbird's parents in bitter divorce battle
HIP-HOP star Molemo “Jub Jub” Maarohanye ’ s stormy love affair with “virgin” Kelly Khumalo hit the skids early last year, and now his parents’ marriage is also in the dumps.
Sunday World can exclusively reveal that Jub Jub’s parents, Sydney and Jacqueline “Mama Jackie” Maarohanye, are embroiled in a bitter divorce battle that will see them fight over their estate, which includes two houses, a butchery and a fleet of cars.
While they slug it out, their son will be heading to the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein to try to get out of jail.
Five independent sources – two relatives, two neighbours and one family friend – told Sunday World that Sydney vacated the fa mily house in Naturena, south of Joburg, towards the end of the artist’s trial about two years ago.
He now lives in a house the couple bought in 2006 in Glen Ridge, Soweto, when they were still happily married.
Speaking to Sunday World at the house on Friday, Sydney, a marketing guru and businessman, confirmed that his union with Mama Jackie has disintegrated and that divorce proceedings were under way.
“I can confirm that I have separated from my wife and the separation was not amicable. It was very acrimonious, but this is a private matter which I prefer not to discuss with the media,” he said.
A close relative, who did not want to be named, said Sydney vacated the marital house after obtaining a protection order against his wife following a series of alleged violent domestic squabbles.
Mama Jackie, once found guilty of kidnapping, confirmed there was a protection order against her.
The relative added that although the couple had several problems, the straw that broke the camel’s back was when Mama Jackie allegedly accused Jub Jub and Khumalo of trying to hook up Sydney with the mother of the Qinesela hitmaker.
“This did not only irritate Sydney, but it also affected him emotionally, psychologically and otherwise because it happened at the time when he was trying to save his son from going to jail. It was so ludicrous,” the relative said.
The relative said that when Khumalo fell pregnant, Mama Jackie allegedly told the family that the child was not Jub Jub’s and demanded paternity tests on behalf of the Ndikhokhele hitmaker.
Mama Jackie, through her lawyer, Isa Vorster, denied these claims.
“My client has elected to stay out of the public eye and refrain from giving any interviews.
“The questions that have been raised are purely sensational. We see no reason why it is necessary to print anything about this,” she said.
Vorster also dismissed as “pure gossip” the claim that Mama Jackie had demanded paternity tests on behalf of Jub Jub. “My client has no knowledge of that and categorically denies asking for paternity tests.”
Another relative said Mama Jackie filed for divorce after Sydney moved out of the house.
Khumalo, who also has a baby with Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa, said: “None of that is my business. I’m not at all interested in saying anything about that. Please leave me alone.” – Additional reporting by Mosa Mokhema