Julius Malema, leader of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), has been denied a UK visa, preventing him from speaking at a scheduled event at Cambridge University. Malema alleges that this denial is politically motivated, claiming it’s a deliberate attempt to silence his critical views on Western policies.The UK High Commissioner to South Africa issued an apology for the delay, attributing it to procedural issues and recent UK national holidays.
However, Malema and the EFF firmly believe that his outspoken anti-Western stance, including his views on the Ukraine and Israel conflicts, significantly contributed to the visa denial.
This situation has ignited a debate about political freedom and the UK’s visa processes, with the EFF accusing the UK of suppressing dissenting voices. Adding to the controversy, the denial occurred as Malema was at the airport, ready to travel, a detail the EFF party found particularly unacceptable.
