Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def) has been arrested in South Africa for violating local immigration laws, and has 14 days to leave the country.
Bey, who has been living in the country since 2013, appeared in a South African court on Thursday after his arrest at Cape Town International Airport for producing what he describes as a “world passport”; a passport South Africa does not recognize.*
The Brooklyn-born rapper initially entered the country with a valid U.S. passport but overstayed his visitor’s permit; Mayihlome Tshwete, government spokesman for the Department of Home Affairs issued some clarifications:
With regards 2 Mr Smith (Mos Def), SAPS has charged him with usage of fraudulent travel documents.The matter is currently before the courts
— Mayi (@MTshwete) January 15, 2016
Mr Smith has been living in SA with his family without the necessary permits, he was detained upon departure for using illegal travel docs
— Mayi (@MTshwete) January 15, 2016
We are all fans guys……but the law is the law
— Mayi (@MTshwete) January 15, 2016
The court order to leave South Africa bars Bey from the country for five years, but he is able to ask the authorities for leniency.
*A world passport might be mandated, but may not be officially recognized by national governments.
*UPDATE: Okayafrica spoke with a representative of the rapper who claims that South Africa previously accepted the world passport to enter the country as recently as August 2015. More here.
