South African comedian David Kau deported

There was little to laugh about when fans of South African comedian David Kau turned up at the Kalahari Sands’ Moringa Room last Saturday only to hear that his one-man show had been cancelled.

Hoping to visit Namibia for the first time as part of his second tour of Sun International casinos, Kau was denied entry into the country at Hosea Kutako International airport as he did not have a work visa to perform in Namibia.

Admitted to be an oversight by Kalahari Sands Hotel and Casino, marketing manager Patricia Pickering speaking on behalf of the hotel says that the cancellation was out of Kau’s hands.

“Kalahari Sands Hotel and Casino were responsible for the work visa,” says Pickering. “It was out of his hands and was very unfortunate as it was an oversight on my part.”

Kau landed in Namibia on SA76 at around 15h00 and, after it was made clear that he did not have the relevant visa, immigration officials walked him through immigration to buy a ticket for the next flight back to South Africa. Immigration officials then walked him back through security and immigration to wait for his flight. Kau’s plane departed at 17h35 and he was back in Johannesburg by 19h00.

“I was looking forward to my show. It would have been the first time I’m performing in Namibia in my 16 year career, that’s why I flew there and cancelled other engagements for that date,” says Kau.

“I looked at staying and visiting and not performing but one of the immigration officials made it clear to me how this would go, and let’s just say by then I knew it’s best I go back to my country.”

Asked whether he will be returning to Namibia in the near future, Kau is uncertain.

“At this stage I’m not sure if I will be coming back to Namibia any time soon. I appreciate the fans I have there and I’m equally disappointed I couldn’t perform on Saturday night.”

Tweeting a selfie to his Twitter followers from Hosea Kutako airport a few hours before the show, Kau announced his deportation from the country.

“This is all I have seen of Windhoek. Never thought I will get deported in Africa. Namibia immigration doesn’t play,” the comedian tweeted.

Kalahari Sands Hotel and Casino has announced that anyone who bought tickets for the show through Computicket will be fully refunded at Computicket outlets. They added that, should the show be re-scheduled, they will be given complimentary tickets.

– @marth_vader on Twitter