Julius Malema, the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), has expressed anger and disappointment after being denied a visa to enter the United Kingdom.
Malema reveals his UK visa was denied
Malema was scheduled to speak at a high-profile event at Cambridge University but announced that British authorities blocked his trip without providing a clear reason.
In a public statement, Malema shared that the decision was made known to him only four hours before he was set to depart.
He explained that he had been told the visa would be ready by 15:30 on the day of travel. However, instead of receiving his documents, he received what he called a “regret letter” — a written message stating that his visa would not be processed in time.
“The British authorities have denied me a visa to London for the Cambridge Conference this weekend, providing no substantial justification,” Malema said.
“It is clear to me that this is an attempt to silence a dissenting political perspective… This is unacceptable and spineless.”
The conference, known as the Cambridge Africa Together Conference, is one of the major annual events hosted by the African Society of Cambridge University. This year’s theme is “The Making of Africa’s Future Presidents,” and it draws a global audience of leaders, academics, and policymakers.
EFF claims British High Commission sabotaged Malema
The EFF issued a formal statement blaming the British High Commission for deliberately preventing Malema from attending.
The party described the situation as a form of political censorship. According to the EFF, the delay in visa processing and the last-minute letter of regret point to what they call “an administratively orchestrated ban.”
“This is nothing more than an expression of bureaucratic process being used to suppress political dissent,” the party stated.
They accused the UK government of using technical procedures as a way to silence Malema’s criticism of Britain’s colonial past and its alleged ongoing role in international injustices.
The EFF said Malema had planned to visit the grave of Queen Elizabeth II as part of his trip, to mark what they described as the end of a painful historical era. The statement accused the British monarchy of being responsible for colonial-era violence in Africa and claimed that the denial of Malema’s visa was a response to past EFF criticisms, especially following the Queen’s death.
According to the party, the decision shows that the UK still holds influence over who gets to speak on global platforms. They warned that this action could be seen as a threat to academic freedom and freedom of speech.
Despite the setback, the EFF says it remains committed to spreading its message internationally.
“We will never be discouraged from building global solidarity against imperialism and capitalism,” the statement concluded.
The British High Commission has not released a public explanation for the visa denial at the time of writing.
