Umdloti’s man of mystery

East Coast Radio listeners would have heard the name Kevlar Kev on the breakfast show, but not many know who this mysterious man really is.

He loves danger, wears Puma clothing, plays pranks on Darren Maule and co. and prefers driving on dirt roads, because tar is just so unadventurous

The man behind Kevlar Kev is the bubbly, passionate, adrenaline junkie journalist called Kevin Minter-Brown, who lives in Umdloti.

“I had worked as a DJ for ECR for nearly ten years, when I decided to go to London in 2003, but after nine years I had enough and needed to come home,” he said.

While he was away, he discovered his love for editing and so he approached ECR with the idea that he would do their You Tube channel, and they agreed.

“They offered me a one month contract. I got going on the You Tube channel and three years later, I am still here.”

What started with one old computer and a Go Pro camera has grown into a team of people and a studio with ultra-modern technology, which has become known as East Coast TV.

“I love editing video and capturing emotions, but my favourite part is choosing the right music for the moment.”

Kevlar Kev grew into the ECR stuntman and creates crazy, fun and heartfelt videos, adding a visual platform for the breakfast show listeners.

“I love danger and doing things spontaneously. I do anything from jumping off buildings to crashing a sandcastle competition while wearing a lion suit,” he said.

Being drawn to humanitarian issues, the stuntman went to Cape Town during the terrible fires this year and did what he could to help.

“I spent time in a volunteer centre, packing gazillions of litres of water and food parcels for the firefighters who were sleeping on the mountain, while trying to fight the fires.”

Having been born and raised in Zimbabwe, Minter-Brown felt drawn to the refugee camps during the recent xenophobia attacks.

“The Chatsworth refugee camp was hardcore and an unforgettable experience,” he said.

“I sat around the fire with the refugees and wanted to capture the heart and soul of the camps.”

He managed to do just that during his time there. It is safe to say that he is a true South African, with the people in his heart and a unique approach to life.