EFF fumes over Malema visa snub: ‘UK is a coward!’

Malema

Cape Town – The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has strongly condemned the United Kingdom’s decision to deny its leader, Julius Malema, a visa, labelling it as political censorship and cowardice.

The UK Home Office cited Malema’s political views — particularly his support for Palestine, Hamas, and Hezbollah — and past inflammatory remarks as reasons for the ban, stating his presence would not be “conducive to the public good”.

It said that Malema had refused at the South African Equality Court in 2022 to commit to not repeating calls for “the slaughter of white people”.

“Taking the above into account, your presence in the UK has been assessed as non-conducive to the public good on the grounds of your conduct, character and associations, which makes it undesirable to grant you entry to the UK,” the letter from the Home Office secretary said.

Malema had been invited to speak at Cambridge University in May 2025, but the UK refused his entry, warning that future applications would also likely be denied unless he alters his political stance.

EFF spokesperson Sinawo Thambo accused the UK of stifling democratic debate, promoting intolerance, and distorting South African judicial matters.

“This is not only cowardice by the UK but also a stifling of democratic debate and a pathetic expression of intolerance toward those who hold views different from the UK administration, including its monarchy,” Thambo said.

The EFF views the visa denial as a broader attack on revolutionary voices challenging imperialism, racial inequality, and global injustice.

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