PRETORIA, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- The South African Department of Home Affairs said Tuesday that they are withdrawing the charges against the U.S. musician Dante Smith Bey and banning him from visiting the country.
Bey, also known as Mos Def, was arrested when he tried to leave the country using the World Government of World Citizens passport, which South Africa does not recognize as a valid passport.
He was arrested and charged for violating immigration laws.
While briefing the media in Pretoria, Mkuseli Apleni, Home Affairs Director-General, said after his arrest he wrote a letter to the Department of Home Affairs apologizing for his actions.
"The department is satisfied with the apology, and has agreed in principle for him to depart from South Africa on Tuesday, November 22nd, 2016. Based on his apology and the confirmation that he will depart on Tuesday, using a valid passport, the department will withdraw the charges against him, on Friday, in his absence," Apleni said.
Bey apologized to the government and acknowledged that the passport he wanted to use is not valid in the country. He also apologized for violating immigration laws. He had in the past been a frequent traveler to South Africa using his U.S. passport.
Apleni said, "Mr. Smith Bey has applied for and will be travelling out of the republic on a U.S. passport. For his conduct, Mr. Smith Bey will be declared an undesirable person, by the Home Affairs. He will therefore not qualify for a port of entry visa or admission to the republic."
He said while foreigners are welcome in the country, they should adhere to the laws of the land.
