Controversial South African political figure Julius Malema has been denied a visa to enter the United Kingdom, preventing him from delivering a scheduled keynote speech at the University of Cambridge’s Africa Together Conference on 10 May.
Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), described the decision as a politically motivated move to suppress alternative views. “There was no substantial justification,” Julius Malema posted on X. “This is an attempt to silence a dissenting political perspective.”
In a leaked letter addressed to EFF senior member Godrich Gardee, UK High Commissioner to South Africa Antony Phillipson expressed regret over the visa delay. He acknowledged that the UK Home Office was unable to process Malema’s application in time, citing recent UK bank holidays as a contributing factor. Phillipson added that he had taken a personal interest in the matter and apologized for the inconvenience caused.
Julius Malema Applied on Time
Despite applying well in advance and even paying for a priority service, the EFF delegation received a visa refusal just hours before departure. Julius Malema criticized the handling of the application, calling it “unacceptable and spineless.”
The EFF has accused the UK High Commission of intentionally delaying the visa process to block Malema from addressing the conference, where he was expected to speak on African sovereignty, land reform, and the ongoing impact of Western imperialism. The invitation came from Cambridge University’s African Society, a respected academic forum for African thought leaders and policymakers.
The UK Home Office declined to comment on the specific case, in line with their standard policy.
This incident has ignited debate over freedom of speech and the treatment of outspoken political voices like Julius Malema on international platforms. It raises questions about whether Western democracies are genuinely open to engaging with critical perspectives from the Global South — or only when they align with the prevailing narrative.
Source – News365.co.za
