Denied at the Last Minute: Malema Blasts UK Visa Delay as Political Silencing
SOUTH AFRICA– Julius Malema, leader of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), was denied a UK visa despite assurances that his application would be resolved by 15:30 on Tuesday.
The formal refusal arrived via a letter just four hours before his scheduled departure for the Africa Together Conference at Cambridge University on May 10, 2025, while he was awaiting departure at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.
In a leaked letter addressed to EFF senior member Godrich Gardee, UK High Commissioner Antony Phillipson issued a personal apology on behalf of the Home Office.
According to BBC, the letter explained that the visa processing delay was due to the necessary steps required to consider visa applications, compounded by the unfortunate timing of recent UK bank holidays.
Although the application had been submitted early with priority processing, standard administrative protocols prevented its expedited approval and the Home Office has agreed to refund the visa fee.
Malema has vehemently criticized the decision on X, describing it as “unacceptable and spineless.”
He contends that the denial was a politically motivated attempt to silence his dissenting views—views that sharply critique Western imperialism and advocate for radical socio-economic reforms, including the nationalisation of white-owned land.
The EFF argues that this bureaucratic setback is part of a broader effort to curb oppositional voices on the international stage.
While the UK Home Office has declined to comment further on the case, political observers are debating whether the incident represents a misuse of routine administrative processes for political purposes.
As the controversy unfolds, questions remain over balancing standard procedural requirements with the imperative to safeguard political expression.
