The United Kingdom has formally denied a visa to South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema for the second time, citing his extremist views and support for banned groups like Hamas.
The decision, announced on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, comes just weeks after a similar rejection, intensifying diplomatic tensions.
In a letter dated June 17, the UK Home Office labeled Malema’s presence “not conducive to the public good,” pointing to his 2016 remark about not ruling out violence against white people and his 2024 endorsement of Hamas’s actions, including the October 7 attacks.
The UK, where Hamas is classified as a terrorist organization, also flagged his support for Hezbollah.
Malema, who previously visited the UK, criticized the decision as an attempt to silence dissent.
The rejection follows a May incident where visa delays barred him from a Cambridge conference, prompting an apology from British High Commissioner Antony Phillipson.
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