Cape Town – The much anticipated sold-out Chris Brown R&B music shows scheduled for December might not happen if the GOOD party has its way.
The party led by Aunty Pat, (Tourism Minister Patrica de Lille), has moved to stop the American R&B singer, whose violent attacks on his female partner were well documented, from performing in South Africa.
Chris Brown was convicted in the U.S.A. for criminal assault following an attack on fellow R&B artist Rihanna, his partner at the time.
As a result, the UK and Canada have banned Chris Brown from their shores.
In that Gender-Based Violence matter, Chris 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.
The popular singer was later sentenced to 131 days in prison for violation of his probation.
Chris Brown was not given the alternative of a fine.
GOOD Party Secretary-General Brett Herron on Wednesday, (23 October 2024), said he has written to Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber urging him to declare Chris Brown an “undesirable person in terms of Section 30 of the Immigration Act”.
“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,” complained the GOOD party.
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.
Herron said: “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 Gender-Based Violence and Femicide bills passed a few months ago do not speak of ‘exceptions’. Zero tolerance is the phrase they use.”
Herron pointed out that 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,” Herron said.
