Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has accused British authorities of trying to silence dissent after he was denied a visa to the United Kingdom just hours before boarding a flight to attend the Cambridge Africa Conference.
Malema was scheduled to speak at the prestigious academic gathering this weekend at the University of Cambridge. In a statement posted to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the South African politician expressed anger and disappointment over the decision.
“The British authorities have denied me a visa to London for the Cambridge Conference this weekend, providing no substantial justification. It is clear to me that this is an attempt to silence a dissenting political perspective,” he wrote.
Malema said his team had been told the matter would be resolved by 15:30 on Tuesday, but instead received a letter of regret just four hours before his scheduled departure, while already at OR Tambo International Airport.
“This is unacceptable and spineless,” Malema added, suggesting the move was politically motivated.
The UK Home Office has yet to release an official explanation for the visa denial.
Malema’s international appearances often draw attention and controversy. While his supporters hail him as a powerful Pan-Africanist voice challenging Western dominance, critics accuse him of using divisive and inflammatory rhetoric. His exclusion from the Cambridge Africa Conference is likely to fuel ongoing debate over freedom of expression and how African political leaders are treated on global platforms.
The Cambridge Africa Conference brings together academics, policymakers, and activists from across Africa and the diaspora to discuss pressing issues of governance, development, and social justice.
