Today, let's delve into the world of entertainment and showbiz, where fame often walks hand in hand with controversy. A new storm has gathered around a very controversial media personality, Molemo Maarohanye, better known as Jub Jub. Questions are swirling about the sources of his income, with tips suggesting that police might soon dig deeper into how he funds his lifestyle amid fresh fraud allegations. At the same time, television star Minnie Dlamini has launched a high-stakes lawsuit against podcasters MacGyver Mukwevho, known as MacG, and Solomzi Phenduka, seeking millions in damages for what she describes as harmful and discriminatory comments. This unfolding saga reveals layers of financial disputes, broken promises, and heated public feuds that pull back the curtain on the darker side of celebrity life.
Jub Jub, a figure who has bounced between chart-topping music success and television hosting gigs, now finds himself at the center of investigations after Likhona Sukume filed a fraud case against him. Sukume, a resident from Katlehong on the East Rand, reported the matter to the police, claiming that Jub Jub borrowed R50,000 from him in three separate installments to help fund an event in October of the previous year. According to the details shared, Jub Jub had promised to repay double the amount once the event generated profits, but only a partial payment of R15,000 came through in January. Efforts to recover the rest, including attempts through the small claims court and visits to Jub Jub's home, led nowhere. Sukume even tried reaching out via phone, only to discover that Jub Jub had reportedly changed his numbers, making contact impossible. Frustrated and feeling deceived, Sukume turned to the authorities on a Monday, convinced that Jub Jub had no intention of settling the debt. Police spokesperson Tintswalo Sibeko confirmed the ongoing probe, highlighting how this case points to broader concerns about Jub Jub's financial dealings.
The event at the heart of this dispute was the Lyta Motlakase concert, held in Thulamahashe, Mpumalanga, on 24 December 2023. Sukume accused Jub Jub of using questionable tactics to organize it, suggesting that the TV presenter might have scammed multiple people involved. He pointed out that the money lent came from a credit card and an additional loan from an acquaintance, resources Sukume had trusted Jub Jub to handle responsibly. This was not a one-off favor; Sukume had respected Jub Jub as a fellow community member and gave him ample time to make good on the agreement. However, a leaked conversation circulating on social media showed Jub Jub allegedly stating he would not repay the full amount, which Sukume interpreted as a clear sign of intent to keep the money permanently. He urged investigators to look into Jub Jub's overall methods of acquiring funds, warning that others could fall into similar traps if the patterns continued unchecked. Sukume emphasized that Jub Jub's recent legal victories, including the withdrawal of serious charges like rape and attempted murder by the National Prosecuting Authority, might have given him a false sense of being above accountability.
Adding to the pile of claims, security company owner Grootman Zwane stepped forward with his own story of unpaid debts tied to the same Mpumalanga event. Zwane alleged that Jub Jub owes him R70,000 for providing VIP protection services, including armed guards and accompaniment during school tours that followed the concert. The arrangement started verbally, with most discussions happening over WhatsApp, where Zwane noted Jub Jub was cautious about committing anything incriminating in writing. Initially, things appeared promising; Jub Jub had approached Zwane months in advance, requesting a registered security firm to meet event regulations. He even covered some early costs and provided food for the team, building a sense of trust. They had talked about collaborating on future projects, and Zwane supplied his company details for the Joint Operations Committee, which oversees public events for compliance with safety and by-law standards.
But after the concert, the story shifted. Zwane said Jub Jub claimed the event underperformed financially and promised payments would come soon. Days turned into weeks, and when complaints from other unpaid participants surfaced just two days post-event, Zwane realized he might never see his money. He regretted not demanding payment on the spot, especially after witnessing Jub Jub handling cash during the cleanup. Accommodation issues also arose in the lead-up; Zwane claimed Jub Jub struggled to book and pay for lodging, eventually securing a place with assurances of settlement after the show. When the bills came due the following Monday, the accommodation providers chased down Zwane and others, directing them back to Jub Jub. Feeling outmaneuvered by what he called Jub Jub's smooth-talking ways, Zwane decided against pursuing legal routes, believing they would be futile. Instead, he planned to confront Jub Jub directly if their paths crossed again. Attempts to reach Jub Jub for his side proved fruitless, with phone calls failing to connect and emails to his booking address bouncing back. A former publicist mentioned they had lost contact after yet another number change.
These accusations have snowballed, with more people coming forward after Sukume's story went viral on TikTok. One couple claimed Jub Jub owes them R200,000 from unrelated dealings, while others reported smaller sums adding up to around R120,000 in total claims. Sukume had even delivered a letter of demand to a house believed to be Jub Jub's, accompanied by police, in an effort to resolve the matter privately before escalating it. He mentioned trying to involve Moja Love, the channel where Jub Jub hosts shows like Uyajola 9/9, but that avenue also led to a dead end. The pattern suggests a habit of borrowing without full repayment, often tied to promises of event profits or future earnings from television work. Sukume specifically noted that Jub Jub had assured him the remaining money would come once payments from Moja Love arrived, but that never materialized.
Jub Jub's life story adds context to these troubles. Born Molemo Katleho Maarohanye on 29 June 1980, he grew up in Soweto's Orlando East in a family of five. Discovered as a child in 1991 through a Coca-Cola TV advertisement featuring soccer legend Doctor Khumalo, he quickly became a child star, hosting shows like Jam Alley and Yo TV. His career expanded into hip-hop, where he achieved platinum status with albums like Rare Breed and My Shine. He remade hits such as Ndikhokhele in 2020 and Umbedesho as Ngi Thembe Wena in 2021, solidifying his place in the music scene. On television, he gained fame hosting Uyajola 9/9, a reality show exposing cheating partners, along with You Promised to Marry Me and Uthando Noxolo on Moja Love's DSTV Channel 157.
However, his path has been marked by significant legal hurdles. In March 2010, Jub Jub and his friend Themba Tshabalala were arrested following a drag racing accident while under the influence of hard drugs. The incident resulted in the deaths of four schoolchildren and severe brain injuries to two others. Convicted in December 2012 of culpable homicide and related offenses after an appeal reduced initial murder charges, they each received a 10-year sentence. After serving just over four years, they were released on parole in 2017. Jub Jub's family background includes his mother, Jacqueline Maarohanye, known as Mama Jackie, who ran an orphanage in Soweto and was once praised as the Angel of Soweto for aiding orphans. She received donations from figures like Oprah Winfrey and Nelson Mandela. But in a twist, she was sentenced to 12 years in prison, with five years suspended, for illegally operating the orphanage and selling two orphans to a childless couple for R30,000. Reports indicated she coached children to fabricate stories of witnessing their parents' deaths to attract more funds from donors.
Jub Jub has spoken publicly about his personal life, confirming he is married to a woman who supported him through his prison term and trials without judgment. He described her as private, not interested in fame or money, which is why she remains out of the spotlight. This stability contrasts sharply with his professional entanglements, where financial disputes continue to mount.
Shifting focus to another thread in this web of celebrity drama, Minnie Dlamini has taken legal action against MacG and Sol Phenduka, filing papers in the Equality Court for hate speech, unfair discrimination, and harassment based on sex or gender. The lawsuit stems from episodes of their Podcast and Chill, starting with one on 3 December 2021 featuring Jub Jub as a guest. In that widely viewed episode, which garnered over 1.7 million views, the hosts encouraged discussions about women's sexual histories in degrading terms, using language that objectified them as mere conquests. Dlamini highlighted how such talk normalizes harmful attitudes in a country grappling with high rates of gender-based issues.
Following public backlash, including criticism from Dlamini herself, the podcasters aired a defensive episode where they attacked her credentials, questioning her role as host of the sports show Homeground and implying she lacked genuine knowledge of the field. On 17 February 2022, another episode mocked the breakdown of Dlamini's marriage to Quinton Jones, suggesting she pursued relationships for financial gain and stereotyped women as unfaithful when wealthier options appeared. They used terms that reduced women to commodities, labeling some as not "wife material" and suitable only for fleeting encounters, employing language that further demeaned them.
The pattern continued in a May 12, 2022, episode discussing businessman Edwin Sodi's alleged relationships, listing women in a way that treated them as disposable items. The conversation turned personal against Dlamini, spreading untrue rumors of infidelity and accusing her of exchanging favors for money, invoking crude archetypes to degrade her character. The most offensive segment came in yet another episode where MacG suggested Dlamini's romantic failures stemmed from poor personal hygiene, specifically referencing her private areas in a humiliating "joke." This led to national discussion of her body in demeaning ways, which Dlamini argued violated her dignity and perpetuated misogyny.
Although MacG issued an apology, Dlamini rejected it as insincere, lacking true remorse or acknowledgment of the harm caused. She demands a court-approved apology to her and women broadly, along with requirements for the podcasters to undergo 50 hours of gender sensitization sessions administered by the Commission for Gender Equality or a nominated entity. Additionally, she seeks 100 hours of unpaid service each at organizations combating gender-based problems, nominated by the same commission. Financially, Dlamini is pursuing R1.5 million to be paid jointly to Women for Change, a non-profit registered with the Department of Social Development, within 90 days. She also wants R1 million in personal damages for the impairment of her dignity.
These demands underscore Dlamini's stance that the podcasters' remarks breached provisions of the Equality Act, promoting hate and discrimination. The lawsuit, filed last week, aims to hold them accountable and set a precedent against such content. The connection to Jub Jub's appearance on the podcast ties the stories together, as his interview sparked the initial wave of controversial discussions that eventually targeted Dlamini.
As these events unfold, they paint a picture of an entertainment industry rife with accountability gaps, where financial promises evaporate and public platforms amplify harmful stereotypes. Do you think Jub Jub's source of income is clean? or should police probe where his money comes from?
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