Julius Malema, a prominent opposition politician from South Africa, has announced that his visa application to attend a conference in the UK on May 10 has been rejected.
Malema criticized the UK for lacking a ‘substantial justification’ for this decision, interpreting it as an effort to suppress dissenting political views.
A leaked correspondence from Antony Phillipson, the UK High Commissioner to South Africa, indicated that the Home Office could not process Malema’s visa in time for his planned trip.
As the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Malema is known for his strong opposition to what he perceives as ‘Western imperialism’ and his calls for the nationalization of land owned by white individuals in South Africa.
A spokesperson from the Home Office stated that they do not comment on specific cases.
The EFF claimed in a post on X that the High Commission had ‘actively delayed’ the processing of Malema’s visa, preventing him from addressing the Africa Together Conference at the University of Cambridge.
The invitation to speak at this event was extended by the university’s African Society.
In a letter confirmed to be authentic by the BBC, Mr. Phillipson expressed his desire to ‘personally apologize’ for the Home Office’s inability to process the application in a timely manner due to the necessary procedures involved and the unfortunate timing of recent UK Bank Holidays.
He expressed that he had developed a personal interest in the matter over the past week.
Mr. Phillipson acknowledged in his correspondence to Godrich Gardee of the EFF that this situation would be profoundly disappointing, particularly since the delegation had made prior arrangements and some had opted for priority service.
He also mentioned that the Home Office had consented to refund the application fee. Malema stated on X that the EFF delegation had been assured that all issues would be resolved, yet they received a letter of regret just hours before their scheduled departure.
He criticized the situation as unacceptable and lacking courage, noting that the UK observed a public holiday on May 5.
