South African politician Julius Malema, who is popular for his strong positions on the West’s stance towards Africa, has accused UK authorities Wednesday of denying him a visa to speak at an event at Cambridge University for political reasons.
Julius Malema, the leader of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters opposition party, said the decision was effectively a ban on him addressing students and “an attempt to silence a dissenting political perspective.”
He posted on social media platform X that he had been assured that his visa was being processed but had received “a regret letter” informing him his application was not successful while he was at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport waiting for his flight to London.
Malema has previously demanded the UK pay reparations and apologize to African nations for colonialism.
Colonial abuses
The lawmaker and his party have also accused the British monarchy of playing a leading role in the slave trade and colonial abuses.
The BBC reported that it had seen a leaked letter to Malema’s EFF party from the British high commissioner to South Africa personally apologizing that the UK Home Office wasn’t able to process Malema’s visa in time and saying it was due to procedural issues.
The letter from High Commissioner Antony Phillipson cited “the unfortunate timing” of recent British national holidays, according to the BBC.
The Home Office didn’t comment.
Anti-Western positions
Malema was due to speak at an Africa-themed event at Cambridge University on Saturday, his party said.
The firebrand politician has also taken anti-Western positions recently on the war in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict.
He has voiced support for Russia over its invasion of Ukraine and has accused Western nations of supporting and financing what he calls Israel’s “genocide” against Palestinians in Gaza.
