South African opposition politician Julius Malema has said he has been denied a visa to attend a conference in the UK, alleging it is an attempt to silence his political views.
Mr. Malema, the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, was due to speak at the University of Cambridge’s Africa Together Conference on 10 May, having been invited by the university’s African Society.
However, he claims the UK government has denied him a visa without “substantial justification.” He sees the decision as an “attempt to silence a dissenting political perspective.”
The UK High Commissioner to South Africa, Antony Phillipson, in a letter leaked to Mr. Malema’s deputy, Godrich Gardee, said the UK Home Office had been unable to process the visa application in time for his trip.
Mr. Malema is known for his outspoken criticism of what he describes as “Western imperialism” and his advocacy for the nationalisation of white-owned land in South Africa.
The EFF, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), accused the High Commission of “actively delaying the processing and approval” of their leader’s visa.
In the letter, which has been confirmed as genuine, Mr. Phillipson apologised for the delay, citing “the necessary steps required to consider visa applications and the unfortunate timing of some recent UK Bank Holidays.” He also mentioned taking a “personal interest in the issue” over the past week.
“I recognise that this will be deeply disappointing, especially as the delegation applied in advance and some paid for priority service,” Mr. Phillipson wrote, adding that the Home Office had agreed to refund the application fee.
Mr. Malema responded on X, saying the EFF delegation had been promised “everything would be sorted,” but received a “regret letter just hours before our departure.” He described the situation as “unacceptable and spineless.”
The UK recently observed a bank holiday on 5 May, which may have contributed to processing delays. The Home Office has been contacted for comment.
BBC
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