Convicted conman and infamous swindler Joseph ‘Joe’ Safra, also known by his numerous aliases Aeghatidis Andreas Socrate and, more recently, Dr. Jonathan Rothschild, has passed away. The news was confirmed to ZiMoja by a close friend, although the cause of death remains undisclosed by his tight-lipped family. Safra’s life was marked by high-profile scams and a trail of deception, leaving behind a legacy as notorious as it was complex.
Safra gained notoriety not only for his fraudulent schemes but also for his high-profile relationship with South African singer Vusi Nova. He infamously conned celebrities and top executives, claiming to be the son of Brazilian banking billionaire Joseph Safra. Posing as the head of the fictitious Safra Group, he orchestrated an employment scam, offering fake job packages with salaries of up to R65,000 per month. His web of deceit extended beyond the entertainment industry, ensnaring unsuspecting victims across multiple sectors.
Between 2011 and 2014, Safra was arrested and charged with defrauding the late Leon Kruger and his wife, Catharina Johanna Kruger, of nearly R1 million. Under the guise of the wealthy Brazilian billionaire Dr. Joseph Safra Sr., he claimed to chair Safrasa Investments, while Vusi Nova was listed as the managing director. Both were arrested in 2014, though Vusi Nova was later released due to insufficient evidence. After serving time, Safra resurfaced in 2023 under a new identity, Dr. Rothschild, continuing his fraudulent activities in property deals, identity theft, and allegedly assisting asylum seekers with illegal entry into South Africa.
Reflecting on his tumultuous life, a close friend told ZiMoja, “We’re no longer worried about whether he would get himself into trouble again. He is resting; he had a good run.” Safra’s death closes a controversial chapter marked by deception, manipulation, and an uncanny ability to reinvent himself, leaving behind a complicated legacy that intertwines crime and celebrity.
