UK Denies Visa to South Africa’s Julius Malema Over Security and Extremism Concerns

By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu

The United Kingdom has declined a visa application from South African opposition leader Julius Malema, stating that his presence in the country is “not conducive to the public good.”

According to South African outlet News24, which reviewed the official refusal letter, British authorities cited Malema’s political associations and controversial remarks, including his public support for Hamas—a group banned in the UK—as reasons for the denial.

Malema, 44, heads the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), a far-left party known for its populist and anti-capitalist agenda. He has been a vocal advocate of radical economic reforms in South Africa, including land expropriation without compensation and nationalization of industries.

The UK Home Office noted concerns about past statements by Malema, including those made in South Africa’s Equality Court in 2022, where he declined to disavow inflammatory slogans calling for violence against white citizens.

“Considering your statements, conduct, and political connections, your presence in the UK has been deemed undesirable,” the Home Office letter reportedly read.

Malema gained international attention when former U.S. President Donald Trump featured him in a White House meeting video to support unverified claims of violence against white farmers in South Africa. Trump wrongly identified Malema as a government figure, amplifying concerns about South Africa’s land reform debate.

Although once seen as a rising political force, Malema’s EFF secured only 9.5% of the vote in South Africa’s last election and has since seen its popularity decline.