by Thinus Ferreira
After Siyaya TV axed Molemo Maarohanye known as Jub Jub over alleged unprofessional and offensive behaviour and ended his R510 000 monthly payment causing his debit orders to bounce, the controversial presenter is now taking Moja Love to court demanding almost R100 million.
Moja Love (DStv 157) effectively fired Jub Jub who has been the presenter of its tabloid trash cheaters reality show Uyajola 9/9 which has been a hit on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service, surging in the ratings to become the second-most-watched show on subscription television some months.
The City Press newspaper first reported about Moja Love's axing of Jub Jub after he allegedly damaged the brand of Moja Love and the image and relationship of Moja Love's biggest funder, the Bakgatla-ba-Kgafela tribal community when he allegedly caused the implosion and cancellation of the Moses Kotane Arts Festival in December 2022.
Moja Love decided to terminate their working relationship with Jub Jub, who this week went to court, demanding millions of rand from Moja Love.
On Monday Jub Jub filed an application in the Johannesburg High Court against Moja Love CEO Aubrey Tau and Siyaya TV after he had sent a letter of demand for his monthly payment of R510 000 from Moja Love.
"It is obligatory and in terms of the contract that my salary is deposited directly into my bank account on a monthly basis. To my surprise, I learnt that at the end of January to even up to 2 February 2023, I had not received my salary," the court filing states.
"All attempts to call the second respondent (Aubrey Tau) and the legal adviser of the channel never yielded any results."
"At his point in time, debit orders were being returned unpaid. I did not know the reasons for this conduct of the first respondent (Moja Love) through the second respondent."
In addition, Jub Jub wants R2 million in damages from Moja Love for the "expected renewal" of his contract, arguing that Uyajola 9/9 is extremely popular and has high ratings on DStv, leading to the conclusion that the show would continue with him as presenter.
Jub Jub also alleges that his contract stipulated that he should be paid a performance bonus of at least R20 000, overdue for 2021 and 2022, amounting to R50 000 in total.
Furthermore, Jub Jub wants R72 million from Moja Love for using his song as the channel's soundtrack in Uthando Noxolo, the show he originally presented on Moja Love.
"I have not been compensated in a form of goodwill nor as royalties for my song, notwithstanding various agreements to do so on various occasions," Jub Jub claims.
Jub Jub further demands R10 million for the use of his image on Moja Love billboards across South Africa, and another R18 million from Moja Love from the belief that his contract would have been extended for another 5 years.
"I shall further seek relief for payment for being co-producer of the show, Uyajola 9/9. By virtue of the oral agreement between myself and the second respondent, such amount is due and payable immediately,” the filed court papers state.
Jub Jub couldn't be reached for comment.
Bokani Moyo, head of Moja Love channels, told TVwithThinus in response to a media query that "Jub Jub is an independent contractor and
therefore cannot be dismissed as he is not a permanent employee of the channel".
"Moja Love is also not at liberty to discuss the contents of his contract as it
is confidential and of a privileged nature."