South African politician criticizes UK visa denial

Russia Today

12-05-2025

Julius Malema has slammed the United Kingdom's decision to deny him a visa, calling it an 'act of cowardice'. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader further accused Elon Musk and US President Donald Trump of attempting to criminalise him for his political views.
Malema was scheduled to speak at a conference hosted by the University of Cambridge last week, but said he was informed by British authorities, just hours before his flight from OR Tambo International Airport, that his visa had been denied.
'I was supposed to get there in London to meet with students, as I was invited by Cambridge University, but the white people denied me entry to London, saying they wouldn't give me a visa,' Malema said Sunday while addressing supporters in Ward 24 in Freedom Park, Soweto, ahead of Wednesday's by-election.
'They denied me a visa because I can't be bought. I can't be bought by imperialism and colonialism. I don't beat around the bush; I speak the truth, whether you like it or not,' he added.
Malema condemned the move as an attempt to stifle free speech.
'They are cowards, because when you disagree with someone, you don't have to ban them. Apartheid banned our leaders,' he said.
'Apartheid banned Elias Motsoaledi, they sent him to prison for a very long time because they did not agree with his ideas.'
'When you don't agree with people, you must not ban them. That is a sign of cowardice. You must allow them to speak and then disagree with them,' the red berets leader said.
He added that the denial was 'unintellectual,' considering he was scheduled to address students at the prestigious university.
Last Wednesday, IOL News reported that Malema expressed frustration over what he described as a last-minute visa rejection, despite being told by officials that the matter would be resolved by 3:30pm.
'It was unacceptable and spineless,' he said, calling the decision a political attack on his views.
The Cambridge conference is known for hosting discussions on global issues, including politics, economics, and human rights.
Malema said the visa denial was part of a broader pattern aimed at silencing his political views.
'It is Elon Musk, it is Donald Trump who want to criminalise me for speaking truth to power,' he said.
'They want to declare me an international criminal.'
Despite the visa setback, Malema remained defiant.
'Whether they declare me an international criminal or not, whether they deny me a visa or not, Soweto will never deny me a visa. Soweto will always welcome me,' he told supporters.
'I don't feel ashamed that I was banned by London. It allowed me to spend a day with my people, where I am received, where I'm well loved, where ideas do not scare people.'
Malema has been under fire, particularly for his use of the 'Kill the Boer' chant and remarks encouraging land invasions, both of which have drawn criticism from political opponents such as the Democratic Alliance (DA) and lobby group, AfriForum.
In March, Trump criticised the chant after Musk shared a post on X (formerly Twitter) alleging that the EFF was promoting 'white genocide' in South Africa.
Trump reposted the message on Truth Social, receiving support from AfriForum leader Ernst Roets.
That same month, South Africa's Constitutional Court dismissed AfriForum's bid to ban the chant, ruling the case had no reasonable prospect of success.
The British High Commission in South Africa has since issued an official apology following the UK Home Office's failure to process Julius Malema's visa application.
Responding to the fallout, British High Commissioner to South Africa Antony Phillipson apologised in a formal letter, attributing the failure to delays caused by 'the necessary steps required to consider visa applications and the unfortunate timing of some recent UK Bank Holidays.'
'I have been following the processing of the necessary visa for Mr Malema and am writing to personally apologise,' Phillipson said in the letter.
'I recognise that this will be deeply disappointing, especially as the delegation applied in advance and some paid for priority service.
'I am afraid, though, that I have no means of intervening in the decision-making process itself which is solely a matter for the Home Office.'
'I renew my sincere apologies again to them that the Home Office were unable to process the applications in time on this occasion,' said Phillipson. First published by IOL