Music producer, Mr Brown, real name Lynol Siwela, had to leave his pregnant wife in South Africa after he was deported to Zimbabwe for overstaying his work permit. The Moshomo hitmaker, who has been working with Open Mic Productions for seven years, failed to renew his permit and was denied entry to South Africa when he returned from a trip to Botswana. He was unable to be with his wife during the birth of their son in Johannesburg.
Mr Brown’s wife later travelled to Zimbabwe with their newborn baby and reunited with her husband in Harare. “I am so happy,” Mr Brown tells ZiMoja. “It was tough not being able to be around my wife while she was pregnant. She needed me around and I wanted to be there during the pregnancy and birth. But all is well now, we are reunited after a short visit.” He is just glad that his newborn son is healthy and happy.
The producer, currently living in Harare, admitted that he had indeed been sent back home by Home Affairs authorities. “Like I said before, it’s not a big deal, really. I overstayed for a month. I was supposed to renew my work permit but didn’t get a chance. I was staying in SA legally.” Mr Brown was stopped at the border gate returning to South Africa from Botswana. “I went out to Botswana then on my way back I was stopped. I was alone. My only issue was that the label was supposed to help me to sort the matter in three days but they said it was too costly to pay my lawyer and I was sent back home,” he adds. “I overstayed and I was then supposed to appeal but I didn’t and that is how I was refused entry back to South Africa,” he said.