Julius Malema, the outspoken leader of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), has accused the UK government of deliberately blocking his participation in an upcoming conference at the University of Cambridge after his visa application was not processed in time.
Malema had been scheduled to speak at the prestigious Africa Together Conference on May 10, hosted by the Cambridge University African Society. However, he revealed on Wednesday that the UK Home Office had failed to issue a visa, despite his delegation applying well in advance and paying for priority processing.
“There is no substantial justification for this decision,” Malema said in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), calling it a “clear attempt to silence a dissenting political perspective under the guise of bureaucratic delays.” Malema, a staunch critic of what he labels “Western imperialism,” has built a political platform advocating for radical economic transformation in South Africa, including the nationalisation of mines and the expropriation of white-owned land without compensation. His rhetoric and policies have drawn both support and controversy domestically and internationally.
A leaked letter from UK High Commissioner to South Africa, Antony Phillipson, addressed to EFF official Godrich Gardee, confirmed that the delay was due to procedural requirements and the timing of recent UK public holidays, including a bank holiday on May 5. Phillipson personally apologized for the outcome, acknowledging that the delegation had applied early and paid for premium service.
“I recognise that this will be deeply disappointing,” Phillipson wrote. “I took a personal interest in the issue over the past week,” he added, noting that the UK Home Office would refund the visa application fee. The EFF, however, claimed the High Commission had “actively delayed the processing and approval” of Malema’s application to prevent his appearance at the Cambridge event, which features influential African voices discussing political, economic, and social development on the continent.
UK authorities have not confirmed the reasons for the delay, with a Home Office spokesperson stating, “We do not comment on individual cases.” Critics of the move argue that the visa delay raises concerns about free speech and the openness of academic platforms to challenging perspectives, especially from the Global South. Supporters of Malema say the incident reflects broader discomfort within Western institutions toward pan-Africanist and anti-colonial ideologies.
Malema’s political allies also pointed out that the EFF was informed of the visa denial just hours before their scheduled departure, despite reassurances that the process was on track. “This is unacceptable and spineless,” Malema posted online. The incident has sparked debate within South Africa and abroad about diplomatic gatekeeping, political censorship, and the equitable treatment of African leaders in international forums.
