UK denies visa to radical South African politician

Britain has refused to grant an entry visa to Julius Malema, a prominent radical leftist South African politician, citing that his presence in the UK “would not be conducive to the public good.” The decision, confirmed by a British official speaking anonymously to AFP, comes amidst false U.S. claims that white people in South Africa are facing persecution.

News24, which reportedly obtained a copy of the rejection letter, stated that the UK visa office specifically cited Malema’s vocal support for the Palestinian armed group Hamas, which is proscribed in Britain.

Malema, 44, leads the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), a small opposition and populist party with a Marxist-inspired and anti-capitalist ideology. He gained international attention after being featured prominently in a video shown by U.S. President Donald Trump during an Oval Office meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in May. Trump used the video to support unsubstantiated claims of a “white genocide” in South Africa.

The UK Home Office letter, according to News24, noted Malema’s statements in support of arming Hamas. It also referenced Malema’s refusal at the South African Equality Court in 2022 to commit to not repeating calls for “the slaughter of white people.” The letter from the Home Office secretary concluded: “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 controversial video shown in Trump’s office depicted Malema chanting calls to “cut the throat of whiteness” and singing the anti-apartheid song “Kill the Boer, kill the farmer.” Trump falsely presented Malema as a government official, incorrectly implying that his inflammatory slogans reflected an official policy against South Africa’s white minority.

The EFF, known for its theatrical political style, rose to prominence in post-apartheid South Africa by advocating for radical reforms, including land redistribution without compensation and the nationalization of key economic sectors such as mines and banks. However, in last year’s elections, the party secured 9.5 percent of the vote, placing fourth, and has seen a decline in its popularity since.