Brickz’s family under siege
Con man out to swindle family, friends of cash
The family of disgraced kwaito star Brickz have had to fend off fraudsters wanting to fleece them of money.
Brickz’s younger brother, Lethu Ndlovu, said with the imminent sentencing of his brother they have been receiving SMSes from someone who purports to be his brother asking them for cash.
“We have a problem with someone who has managed to do a Sim [card] swap with my brother’s number. This person has been demanding money from my family and close friends. People need to realise that all we need is moral support and prayers, not this,” said Lethu.
Still in the holding cells, Brickz does not have access to his phone, but to the family’s surprise, his WhatsApp has been operating since Friday.
“So I would like to alert people and some of the family members that we are facing a problem. We are pleading with whoever is doing this to stop,” said Lethu. Five family members have received messages from Brickz’s number asking for money. The person behind the messages is asking the family for money to bribe a warder. A close friend, Zandi Nzuza, said: “I got a message from ‘Brickz’ asking me to send R700 so that he could pay a cell mate.”
She has since blocked the number. “We went to Vodacom and pleaded with them to block the number but, surprisingly, this con is still online on WhatsApp,” said Lethu.
In a statement, Vodacom said they would require the customer’s number and details of the alleged fraudulent activity so that "our forensic specialists can initiate an investigation".
Brickz is likely to be locked away for a long time as his charge of rape carries a minimum sentence of 15 years.
Lethu was not keen to comment on the impending sentence.
Brickz’s sentencing in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court will resume tomorrow.