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Rapper, Mos Def arrested in South Africa over fake world passport

Yasiin Bey, the American rapper formerly known as Mos Def has been ordered to leave South Africa within 14 days after he was arrested for breaking immigration laws. He was held at Cape Town International Airport after trying to leave the country with unrecognized papers. The Department of Home Affairs said the 42-year-old produced what he […]

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Yasiin Bey, the American rapper formerly known as Mos Def has been ordered to leave South Africa within 14 days after he was arrested for breaking immigration laws. He was held at Cape Town International Airport after trying to leave the country with unrecognized papers.

The Department of Home Affairs said the 42-year-old produced what he called a “world passport”.It said the singer had overstayed his tourist visa, obtained in 2013.

Born Dante Smith in New York, Mr Bey is now banned from South Africa for five years, but has been allowed to appeal.  South African media said he had been living in Cape Town since May 2013.

A statement by the Department of Home Affairs further added that “further investigation into the matter revealed that Mr Smith’s wife, mother and four children had overstayed and were sojourning in the country illegally,”

Mos Def has been nominated for six Grammy Awards. Def has also appeared in a number of films, including The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Be Kind Rewind and The Italian Job.

 

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