SA pressing ahead with Mos Def charges
The Department of Home Affairs told the media on Wednesday that the government was continuing with its case against international hip hop artist Yasiin Bey, better known as Mos Def.
Bey was arrested in Cape Town last week when he tried to leave the country with his family.
While Mos Def is accusing South African authorities of having no case against him, Home Affairs Director-General, Mkuseli Apleni provided the details on the charges against the rapper, born as Dante Terrell Smith.
"He faces charges for contravening the Immigration Act, misrepresentation made by Mr Smith using a false identity, presentation of a document not issued by a lawful authority, aiding and abetting his family to stay illegally in South Africa," Apleni said.
Apleni said Bey tried to leave South Africa on a World Government of World Citizens passport, which South Africa does not recognise.
"His last arrival in South Africa was on 30 November 2015, on a visitor's passport, with his allocated 90 days to expire on 28 February 2016, after which, he attempted to leave the Republic in January using another document, and not his US passport with which he had initially entered the Republic," Apleni said.
When the US passports of Bey's wife and child were also checked ahead of their flight, immigration officers found that they had overstayed their visit to South Africa.
"Their visitors' visas had expired in April 2014, and were therefore in the country illegally," Apleni said.
His family has been ordered to leave the Republic by 29 January 2016.
Bey's trial is expected to begin on 8 March 2016 where he will have to answer to the immigration charges. He was last week released on R5000 bail in the Bellville Magistrate's Court.
(Photo: Charley Gallay / Getty Images North America / Getty Images/AFP)