SA rapper Molemo "Jub Jub" Maarohanye and Themba Tshabalala have been accused of killing four schoolboys during a drag race in Soweto. The vehicles allegedly driven by the two men lost control and ploughed into a group of schoolchildren.

The court has heard that Jub Jub tested negative for alcohol but positive for cocaine and morphine. The rapper denies he was drag racing or that he was under the influence of illegal substances.

Innocent-until-proven-guilty is the way it should go, but on the streets Jub Jub has already been condemned by the court of public opinion. When the rapper appeared in court this week, thousands of students showed up weilding sticks. They threw stones and attempted to storm the building. A sign read: "Jub Jub must suffer... jail is the best place for you. If you get bail, then run to Paris or die."

Threats were made against ANC youth leader, Julius Malema, because he visited the rapper in jail. A student said: "If Julius Malema continues to visit Jub Jub we are going to follow him to his house and burn it... Why is he visiting Jub Jub in the prison? He is the youth league president, he should be with us, outside."

In South Africa there are huge economic disparities. The gulf between rich and poor is widening. White business people are still top of the heap in many sectors. The average black worker earns significantly less than his or her white counterpart. The affluent lifestyle and "bling" of a tiny minority of black celebrities is a far-cry from the hard bitten lives of kids in Soweto.

The deaths of the schoolchildren is the focus of the protest, but a degree of resentment also underlies the anger directed at Jub Jub and those associated with him.

The court granted bail to the two accused, despite warnings from police that their lives may be in danger.

For more on the story - Al Jazeera - BBC

Also footage of Jub Jub on YouTube - here.