The United Kingdom has on Wednesday formally denied Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema a visa, citing his expressions of support for Hamas and previous remarks seen as inciting racial violence.
In a letter dated June 17, 2025, the UK Home Office stated that future visa applications are also unlikely to succeed unless Malema alters his stance.
Malema, who has previously travelled to the UK, was denied entry this time after a review of his public conduct and political statements.
The UK Home Office said his presence in the country is “not conducive to the public good,” citing both character and association concerns.
Among the issues flagged was Malema’s public support for Hamas, which is an organisation banned in the UK under terrorism laws.
Further comments by the EFF in April 2024 — expressing full support for “the armed struggle of Hamas and Hezbollah” — and a televised interview where Malema called the 7 October attacks “a legitimate act of resistance” were also cited.
Also raised was Malema’s history of racially charged statements, including his now-infamous 2016 remark that the EFF was “not calling for the slaughter of white people — at least for now.”
It also mentioned that in 2022, during an Equality Court hearing, Malema told the presiding judge he could not rule out such calls in future, stating: “I can’t guarantee I won’t say it. I am not a prophet.”
The Home Office’s letter referenced this as part of a pattern of “unacceptable behaviour” under UK immigration policy — defined to include incitement, justification, or glorification of terrorist violence and racial hatred.
“Your conduct, character and associations make it undesirable to grant you entry to the UK,” the letter concludes. “There is no right of appeal or administrative review in relation to this decision.”
Previous Visa refusal
This visa refusal follows a separate incident last month, when Malema was barred from travelling to the UK for the “Africa Together Conference” at Cambridge University. At the time, the British High Commission in South Africa issued an apology for delays in processing the application, citing UK public holidays and internal processing times.
British High Commissioner Antony Phillipson personally apologised in a formal letter to Malema and his delegation, acknowledging that the group had applied early and paid for priority service.
“I renew my sincere apologies again… that the Home Office were unable to process the applications in time on this occasion,” Phillipson said, but added that he had no authority over visa decision-making, which lies solely with the Home Office.
At the time, Malema denounced the delay as politically motivated and accused UK authorities of attempting to “silence a dissenting political perspective.” He said he had been led to believe the matter would be resolved by 3:30pm on the day of departure, only to receive a last-minute rejection notice at OR Tambo International Airport.
