Drugs found in urine samples, Jub Jub trial hears

A number of drugs were found in the urine samples of murder accused Molema “Jub Jub” Maarohanye and Themba Tshabalala, the Protea Magistrate’s Court heard on Tuesday.

Forensic analyst Jose van Rooyen, who conducted the analysis of the urine samples, told the court that the first sample was found to have cocaine, codeine, benzoyl codeine, paracetamol, diphenhydramine and cotamine.

The second sample contained traces of cocaine, codeine, benzoyl codeine, nicotine, caffeine and paracetamol.

“These are all drugs,” she said.

Van Rooyen is a forensic analyst for the department of health at its forensic laboratory in Johannesburg.

She said the urine samples did not show the levels of the substances present.

Maarohanye and Tshabalala were allegedly drag-racing when one of their Mini Coopers ploughed into a group of schoolchildren on Mdlalose Drive in Protea North on March 8, last year.

Quality control
Four children died in the accident and two others suffered severe injuries, including brain damage.

Maarohanye and Tshabalala face charges of murder and attempted murder and driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

Under cross-examination on Tuesday, Van Rooyen said every piece of equipment she had used was certified and that a quality control test was conducted before the analysis started.

She told the court that she was a forensic analysis expert, but was not a toxicologist and could not say how the drugs would affect a person’s behaviour.

Courtroom six at the Protea North courthouse filled up during the course of Tuesday’s proceedings.

Relatives of the children who died wore T-shirts for the “Parents in Action” organisation, which they started against drug and alcohol abuse.—Sapa