STATEMENT BY HOME AFFAIRS DIRECTOR-GENERAL MKUSELI APLENI ON THE ARREST OF MOS DEF

1. STATEMENT BY HOME AFFAIRSDIRECTOR-GENERALMKUSELI APLENION THE ARREST OFMOS DEF:
20 JANUARY2016, PRETORIA
Ladiesandgentlemen,goodmorning!Thankyouforcomingoverat such short notice.
It isveryimportantto clarifyissuesintime.If not,peoplemaynotunderstandhow certainmatters
are beinghandled,especiallywhere the law isconcerned.Inthiscase,the matterwe wantto explain
isthe arrestof UnitedStates(US) musicianandactor, Mr Dante Terrell Smith,alsoknownasMos
Def and/orYasiinBey.
You are aware that Mr SmithwasarrestedinCape Town whenhe triedtoleave SouthAfricaona
WorldGovernmentof WorldCitizenspassport.Thiswasalongwithhisspouse alsoaUS national
(witha US passport) anda minor(alsoona US passport).
The major problemwhyhe couldnotget onthe Ethiopianflightwasthe documenthe producedat
the immigrationcounter,the WorldPassport,whichSouthAfricadoesnotrecognise.Immigration
officershadalsodetectedthathisspouse andminorchildhadoverstayedtheirvisittothe Republic.
Theirvisitors’visashadexpiredinApril 2014, and were thereforeinthe countryillegally.
Thismust be clear,we have no reason,as a country,to refuse anybodyentryordeparture,aslongas
such travel islegal.Mr Smithhimself hasbeenafrequentvisitortoSouthAfricasince 2013. His first
visittoSouthAfricawas on 02 June 2013. He has enteredSouthAfricatentimes,andhasalways
enteredthe countryona visitor’svisa(90 daysexemption) usingaUS Passport,nota World
Passport.
His lastarrival inSouthAfricawas on 30 November2015, on a visitor’spassport,withhisallocated
90 days to expire on28 February2016, after which,he attemptedtoleave the RepublicinJanuary
usinganotherdocument,andnothisUS passportwithwhichhe hadinitiallyenteredthe Republic.
We are guidedbythe ImmigrationRegulations.Regulation2(4) liststhe international,regional or
sub-regional organisations whosedocumentswe recognise,namely:
a) The UnitedNations,excludingitsagencies,exceptforthe UnitedNationsHighCommissioner
for Refugees
b) The AfricanUnion
c) The SouthernAfricanDevelopmentCommunity,and
d) The AfricanDevelopmentBank.
As youcan see,the worldpassportisnot recognisedunderImmigrationRegulation2(4).Proper
procedure wasfollowedforhisarrest.A warrant wasobtained(forhisarrest).He faceschargesfor
contraveningthe ImmigrationAct,13 of 2002, as follows:
a) Section49(14) of the ImmigrationAct: Misrepresentationmade byMr Smith(usingafalse
identity).
b) Section49(15) of the ImmigrationAct: Presentationof adocumentnotissuedbyalawful
authority.

2. c) Section49(2) read withSection42 of the ImmigrationAct: Aidingandabettinghisfamilyto
stay illegallyinSouthAfrica.
Mr Smithwill appearfortrial on08 March 2016 to answertothe immigrationcharges.
His familyhasreceivedanordertoleave the Republic,by29 January2016.
As a democraticstate that isso indebtedtothe international communityforitstrajectoryof
freedom,democracyandjustice,we have noreason,whatsoever,todoanythingconsciouslyto
undermine anyperson’shumanrights.
Since the dawn of democracy,we have beenopenandwill remainopenandreceptivetoother
countriesandtheirpeople,aslongasthisisdone withinthe confinesof the law.
Our internationalhumanrightsrecordisveryclear,as shownbyamong otherthings,the volume of
asylum-seekersandrefugeeswe receive inthe countryeveryyear,ourliberal immigrationpolicies,
and the humane andlawful mannerinwhichwe deal withall persons,includingthose foundtobe in
transgressionof the lawsof the country.
We findcommentsattributedtoMr DavidGallupof the WorldService Authorityunfortunate and
condescending,especiallybeingpreachedtoaboutthe valuesandprinciplesof formerPresident
NelsonMandelawhenamatterispurelyaboutadherence toourimmigrationlaws.We have long
demonstratedcommitmentthe principlesof protectingthosefleeingfrompersecution.Eventhose
whoare facingthreats,still subjectthemselvestoourlaws.
For all to be and feel safe,itisincumbentuponustoimplementthe law,withoutfear,favouror
prejudice.
Thank you.