GOOD Statement by Kaden Arguile,
GOOD National Youth Chairperson
23 October 2024
GOOD Party Secretary-General Brett Herron has written to Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber urging him to declare United States R&B artist Chris Brown an undesirable person in terms of Section 30 of the Immigration Act.
On the basis of Brown’s conviction in the US for criminal assault following an attack on fellow R&B artist Rihanna, his partner at the time, the UK and Canada have banned him from their shores, while Australia and New Zealand have signalled they’d refuse him permission to perform.
South Africa, with its extreme level of gender-based violence – on the other hand – is rolling out the red carpet for Brown to perform at two concerts in Johannesburg in December.
Brown pleaded guilty to a felony charge of assault and was sentenced to five years probation and 180 days of community labour in a plea agreement. He was later sentenced to 131 days in prison for violation of his probation. He was not given the alternative of a fine.
South Africa’s Immigration Act provides that a person “with previous criminal convictions without the option of a fine for conduct which would be an offence in the Republic…” is undesirable.
It is inconceivable that a convicted perpetrator of gender-based violence is afforded a celebrity platform in South Africa.
The Government, which expends much energy talking up its commitment to eradicate gender-based violence, must walk the talk. The GBV and Femicide bills passed a few months ago do not speak of ‘exceptions’. Zero tolerance is the phrase they use.
South Africa has more than enough violent misogynists of its own.
The Minister of Home Affairs must do the right thing and use his powers to stop Brown from entering South Africa.
Media enquiries:
Kaden Arguile: GOOD National Youth Chairperson
Cell: 072 4451437
Email: kaden@forgood.org.za
Samantha Jackson, GOOD: Media Manager
Cell: 083 5509875
Email: samantha@forgood.org.za