Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) will finally be allowed to leave South Africa after spending most of 2016 out on bail in South Africa.
In January, the Brooklyn-born emcee was charged with using a false passport and travel document while attempting to leave the country. Now, the much-delayed case has concluded: After he “unreservedly apologized to the government of South Africa,” Bey will be allowed to leave, the country’s home affairs department said (via the Guardian). “The department is satisfied with the apology [and] will withdraw the charges against him,” the department added. Bey will be declared an undesirable person and barred from re-entry into South Africa.
Bey claimed he possessed a “world passport” issued by the non-profit organization known as the World Service Authority. Although the WSA does not guarantee a country – especially Western nations such as Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland, Great Britain, and the United States – will accept a world passport, the WSA also issues “world citizen” documents like birth certificates, identity cards, and marriage certificates. Applicants must sign a statement saying they understand the world passport’s limitations and the founder of WSA, Garry Davis, has been arrested numerous times for using the passport he sells.
Bey has lived in Cape Town since 2013, but he will not be allowed to re-enter the country.
