By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema was denied a UK visa just hours before his flight, despite being told the issue would be resolved.
In a post on social media platform X, Malema said he was at the OR Tambo International Airport, as he was promised that his visa would be sorted by 3:30pm on Wednesday afternoon, only to be sent a letter four hours before his departure upholding the decision to deny him entry.
Malema was supposed to address students at the 11th Annual Cambridge Africa Together Conference at the Cambridge University.
The conference is geared towards fostering dialogue on various pressing issues, including Western imperialism.
The EFF released a statement decrying the actions of the British High Commission, saying the bureaucratic delays and the timing of the visa rejection amount to an orchestrated effort to prevent Malema from engaging in dialogue with students and scholars at one of the world’s leading universities.
The party said the UK was not only suppressing academic freedom by essentially banning Malema from travelling to the country but was also making an open declaration of war against those who stood up to the British monarchy.
They believe the decision by British authorities was in retaliation to condemnation by Malema of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
In November 2024, Botswana lifted its travel ban against Malema days before President Duma Boko’s inauguration.
Boko removed Malema’s name from the list of individuals barred from entering Botswana including former EFF Deputy President Floyd Shivambu, and businesswoman Bridgette Radebe amongst others.
Malema was banned from entering Botswana in 2011 after he made derogatory comments against former Botswana President Ian Khama.
At the time, Malema was the leader of the African National Congress (ANC) Youth League when he in his speech, criticised Khama’s government labelling it a puppet regime. He was eventually expelled from the ANC in 2012.