South Africa: US rapper Mos Def arrested for false passport

As a result, local government officials are instructing him to leave their country for violating immigration laws.

A Department of Home Affairs spokesman in S.A. tells us Mos overstayed his visitor’s permit, but he can apply for permanent residency if he wishes… he just needs to go through the proper channels.

United States rapper Mos Def has been arrested in South Africa for allegedly travelling on a false passport.

Mr Smith was arrested on Thursday‚ 14 January 2016 and appeared at the Bellville Magistrate Court on Friday‚15 January 2016. Should Def (real name Dante Smith) receive a court order to leave the country, it could mean a ban of up to five years from South Africa. Mos Def appeared alongside family members who were also in the country without a permit, the spokesman said.

Mos Def produced an unrecognized “world passport” when he tried to leave the country, Tshwete said.

“This is a tricky case”, said Tshwete, because the person would normally be deported to his or her home country. And, you know, I thought about this place every day from when I left.

The 42-year-old rhymer, who’s known for his political stunts, has been living in Cape Town for almost three years since he arrived in May 2013.