UK diplomat speaks out: Why Malema’s visa failed

Julius malema

Cape Town – British High Commissioner Antony Phillipson has confirmed that he followed the visa application process for EFF leader Julius Malema, whose application was ultimately not processed in time for him to travel to the United Kingdom.

Malema was scheduled to address the 11th Annual Cambridge Africa Together Conference this week, but was denied entry hours before departure from South Africa.

“The British authorities have denied me a visa to London for the Cambridge Conference this weekend, providing no substantial justification,” Malema wrote in a post on social media.

“It is clear to me that this is an attempt to silence a dissenting political perspective. We are currently at the OR airport, as we were promised that everything would be sorted by 15:30. Instead, we received a regret letter just four hours before our departure. This is unacceptable and spineless.”

In a letter to EFF deputy president Godrich Gardee, Phillipson said the delay was due to procedural requirements and recent UK bank holidays, which impacted processing timelines at the UK Home Office.

“I have been following the processing of the necessary visa for Mr Malema and am writing to personally apologise that colleagues at the UK Home Affairs have said that they will regrettably be unable to process the application in time owing to the necessadry steps required to consider visa applications and the unfortunate timing of the some recent UK Bank Holidays,” Phillipson said.

He acknowledged the EFF’s early application and priority service payments, expressing regret that the visa could not be finalised in time.

“I recognise that this will be deeply disappointing, especially as the delegation applied in advance and some paid for priority service. I would like to assure you that l have taken a personal interest in this issue and nave been in regular communication with relevant Home Office officials about this case including over the last week and this morning.

“I am afraid, though, that I have no means of intervening in the decision-making process itself, which is solely a matter for the Home Office.

Phillipson added that the delegation may withdraw their applications and receive full refunds, given that the conference attendance is no longer possible.

“Given the fact that the purpose of the visit was to attend the Cambridge conference, and that will now no longer be possible, it would be open to the delegation to withdraw their applications on this occasion. We have secured agreement from Home Office colleagues that should the delegation choose to do so, the Home Office will fully refund all application fees,” he said.

The UK’s decision was welcomed by civil rights organisation AfriForum, which has called for international action against Malema over what it calls incitement of violence, referencing his controversial “Kill the Boer” chant.

“Great news! This is only the beginning. AfriForum is intensifying its international campaign, calling on the global community to take punitive action against Julius Malema for inciting violence against Afrikaners and farmers with the “Kill the Boer” chant,” AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel wrote in a post on X.

“South African courts have failed to protect Afrikaners from calls for violence against them, and President  Ramaphosa has refused to condemn the hateful chant. To ensure that Malema cannot act with impunity, international intervention is now necessary,” Kriel said in a post on X.

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