Latest news with #CambridgeConference
The South African
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The South African
'If they leave for America, they will become hobos'
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has questioned why the leader of AfriForum has not left for the United States under Donald Trump's refugee program. Trump offered white Afrikaner farmers refugee status in the US after accusing the South African government of discriminating against minorities, especially Afrikaners. Last week, 49 Afrikaners arrived in the United States. Speaking to a crowd in Pretoria, Malema stated that most white South Africans were not willing to accept 'Trump's offer' because they were living 'comfortably.' 'We must not be intimidated by this thing that says we are killing white people. There is no white person who is being killed in South Africa. If you go and look at the stats, it's white people killing each other for policy inheritance. They kill each other and blame it on us,' he said. Malema said that AfriForum had peddled lies to the US that white people were killed in South Africa. The EFF leader called out the lobby group's leader Kallie Kriel (AfriForum CEO), Gerrie Nel (AfriForum's Private Prosecution) and Ernst Roets (former AfriForum deputy CEO). 'Why is Kriel not going to America? Because he is the one who said people are being killed. Kriel must lead by example and go to America. Roets must lead by example and go to America. Gerrie Nel must lead by example and go to America. They can't go because they live a good life here in South Africa, because when they go to America, they are going to become hobos with immediate effect,' Malema said. Earlier this month, AfriForum applauded the UK's decision to deny Malema a visa and called on the international community to impose further sanctions on him. The EFF was scheduled to speak at the Cambridge Conference but his visa was denied. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
11-05-2025
- Politics
- The South African
'I was supposed to be in London but white people denied me visa'
Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) leader Julius Malema has once again expressed his frustration after being denied a visa to visit the UK. Malema was invited by the African Society of Cambridge to speak at the 11th Annual Cambridge Africa Together Conference, but he was unable to leave OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg because his visa did not arrive in time. On Saturday afternoon, he visited Ward 24 in Soweto ahead of the by-elections scheduled for May 14, 2025. Addressing the crowd, the EFF leader mentioned that he was supposed to be in London that weekend, but his visa had been denied. 'I was supposed to be in London to meet up with students, as I was invited to Cambridge University, but white people denied me entry to London. They denied me a visa because I couldn'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,' Malema said. 'They are cowards because when you disagree with someone, you don't have to ban them. Apartheid banned our leaders,' said the EFF leader. '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 should not ban them because that is a sign of cowardice. You must allow them to speak and then disagree with them.' On Wednesday, Julius Malema took to social media platform X, revealing that he received a letter, four hours before his departure, informing him he had been denied a visa. 'The British authorities have denied me a visa to London for the Cambridge Conference this weekend, providing no substantial justification. 'It is clear to me that this is an attempt to silence a dissenting political perspective,' he said then. On Thursday, the British High Commission formally apologised to Julius Malema. The commission said the UK Home Office failed to process his visa application in time. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
09-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Julius Malema's EFF stands firm after UK visa denial
The British High Commission in South Africa formally apologised to EFF leader Julius Malema after visa delays prevented him from attending a Cambridge University conference. A Senior member of the EFF has confirmed that party leader Julius Malema and others are not planning to withdraw their visa applications to visit the UK, after a party delegation was not provided with visas to attend a conference at Cambridge University this weekend. Malema was invited by the African Society of Cambridge to speak at the 11th Annual Cambridge Africa Together Conference but could not leave OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg as their visas did not arrive in time. Taking to social media platform X, Malema said he was at the airport when he received a letter, four hours before his departure, informing him he had been denied a visa. 'The British authorities have denied me a visa to London for the Cambridge Conference this weekend, providing no substantial justification. "It is clear to me that this is an attempt to silence a dissenting political perspective,' he said. 'This is unacceptable and spineless.' Party spokesperson Sinawo Thambo described the incident as "nothing more than an expression of bureaucratic process being used to suppress political dissent and to ban the voices of the EFF from building global solidarity against Western imperialism". A senior party leader said senior party leaders would not withdraw their visa applications, citing the possibility of future invites from African Society of Cambridge or other entities in the UK.
The Citizen
09-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Cartoon of the day: 9 May 2025
Malema has courted controversy for several years, leading to calls for him to be declared an 'international criminal' EFF leader Julius Malema is outraged at being denied a UK visa just days before he was set to attend the Cambridge Conference in London this weekend. Taking to social media, Malema claimed that 'no substantial justification' was given for the decision. 'We are currently at the OR airport, as we were promised that everything would be sorted by 15:30. Instead, we received a regret letter just four hours before our departure. This is unacceptable and spineless.' The controversial politician claimed the denial was 'an attempt to silence a dissenting political perspective'. 'This is nothing more than an expression of bureaucratic process being used to suppress political dissent and to ban the voices of the EFF from building global solidarity against Western Imperialism,' his party added. In a letter to EFF deputy president Godrich Gardee, British High Commissioner Antony Phillipson apologised that the UK Home Office was unable to process the application due to the time needed to consider visa applications and recent UK bank holidays. Malema's fiery speeches Malema has courted controversy for several years, slamming British imperialism and colonialism. He has also been in court for discharging a rifle during an EFF birthday celebration in 2018. There have been calls for international sanctions against him for his chanting of 'Kill the Boer', with SA-born tech billionaire Elon Musk saying he should be declared an 'international criminal'. Musk accused Malema of deliberately calling for the genocide of white South Africans. Malema hit back, saying he is 'happy to be an international criminal'. 'I am so happy to be an international criminal. Do you know why? Because Nelson Mandela was an international criminal – that's what they declared him for, fighting for the rights of our people. 'If it means I'm joining the ranks of Nelson Mandela by being declared an international criminal for fighting for the rights of my people, I'm a proud international criminal,' Malema said. NOW READ: Could Malema have brought denied UK visa on himself?
IOL News
09-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Julius Malema's EFF stands firm after UK visa denial
The British High Commission in South Africa formally apologised to EFF leader Julius Malema after visa delays prevented him from attending a Cambridge University conference. A Senior member of the EFF has confirmed that party leader Julius Malema and others are not planning to withdraw their visa applications to visit the UK, after a party delegation was not provided with visas to attend a conference at Cambridge University this weekend. Malema was invited by the African Society of Cambridge to speak at the 11th Annual Cambridge Africa Together Conference but could not leave OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg as their visas did not arrive in time. Taking to social media platform X, Malema said he was at the airport when he received a letter, four hours before his departure, informing him he had been denied a visa. 'The British authorities have denied me a visa to London for the Cambridge Conference this weekend, providing no substantial justification. "It is clear to me that this is an attempt to silence a dissenting political perspective,' he said. 'This is unacceptable and spineless.' Party spokesperson Sinawo Thambo described the incident as "nothing more than an expression of bureaucratic process being used to suppress political dissent and to ban the voices of the EFF from building global solidarity against Western imperialism". A senior party leader said senior party leaders would not withdraw their visa applications, citing the possibility of future invites from African Society of Cambridge or other entities in the UK.
