Jailed kwaito star Sipho “Brickz” Ndlovu is back in the spotlight after a video of him singing in a gospel choir at the Leeuwkop Correctional Centre went viral on TikTok. The footage has stirred widespread debate across social media platforms, bringing attention once again to the fallen star’s life behind bars.
Conviction and Time Served
Brickz is currently serving a 15-year sentence for the rape of his then 16-year-old niece, a crime that took place in 2013. He was convicted and sentenced in 2017. As of 2025, he has spent eight years in prison, with parole consideration only possible after he has completed half of his sentence — which would be 7.5 years.
Despite his incarceration, Brickz has remained somewhat active in prison life and is now part of the Leeuwkop prison choir, where he was filmed performing a gospel number with fellow inmates. The video has since gone viral, garnering hundreds of thousands of views and sparking a mix of support, criticism, and reflection online.
Public Reaction to the Viral Video
Social media users have had mixed reactions to the video. Some viewers praised the Department of Correctional Services for its continued efforts to rehabilitate inmates through music, arts, and spiritual development. They saw Brickz’s involvement as a positive sign of transformation.
Watch:
@correctionalservicesza #CorrectionsAtWork | Leeuwkop Correctional Center Male Choir (Gauteng)- Bohang seema #CorrectionsAtWork #CorrectionalServicesZA ♬ original sound – Correctional Services ZA
Others, however, were not as convinced. While some said he appeared to be enjoying the experience — having joined the prison choir in 2019 — critics questioned whether his visible participation in such programs was a genuine sign of rehabilitation or a calculated move aimed at securing early parole.
Rehabilitation or PR Move?
Skeptics on social media raised concerns about whether Brickz’s choir involvement was sincere. Some speculated that the viral video might be part of a public relations strategy to boost his chances of being released early. This speculation was further fueled by the fact that Brickz has consistently maintained his innocence, despite being convicted in a court of law.
For others, though, the focus remained on the potential of prison rehabilitation programs to positively change lives — even for high-profile inmates like Brickz.
Correctional Services Responds
In response to the growing attention, Department of Correctional Services spokesperson Logan Maistry clarified the status of Brickz’s incarceration.
“The inmate will only be eligible for parole consideration after serving the minimum requisite detention period,” Maistry confirmed. “That time has not yet come, and his release is not currently on the table.”
This statement was meant to quell speculation that the viral video could fast-track his release or that he was receiving preferential treatment due to his celebrity status.
Legacy and Lingering Questions
Brickz, once a household name in South African music with hit songs like Sweety My Baby, Ntofotofo, and Stokvel, now faces a drastically different reality. His journey from chart-topping kwaito star to inmate continues to raise difficult questions about rehabilitation, justice, and accountability.
As the video circulates, the debate rages on: can public figures convicted of serious crimes redeem themselves — and if so, how do we measure that transformation?
For now, Brickz remains behind bars, but his voice, both literally and figuratively, is once again making headlines.
