Eff Berates 'intolerant Bully' Uk For Refusing Malema's Visa Application

The Economic Freedom Fighters EFF has described the United Kingdom UK as an intolerant bully for refusing its leader Julius Malemas visa application.

Malema applied for a visa to attend Cambridge Universitys Africa Together Conference in May.

However, in a letter to the EFF , UK High Commissioner in South Africa Antony Phillipson said the application could not be processed in time for the Conference.

In another letter to Malema dated 17 June, the UK Home Office confirmed that it had refused his visa bid, citing extremism concerns.

It gave examples of Malemas comments it perceived to be pro-armed Palestinian group Hamas and Iranian paramilitary group Hezbollah. The UK has proscribed both groups.

Additionally, I note that you have made statements calling for the slaughter of white people or hinted that it could be an acceptable option in the future, the Home Office said, referring to the EFF leaders comments in 2016 and in the Equality Court in 2022.

Taking the above into account, your presence in the UK has been assessed as non-conducive to the public good on the grounds of your conduct, character and associations, which makes it undesirable to grant you entry to the UK.

In a statement on Thursday 19 June, the EFF said the UK had effectively banned the President of the EFF due to his position in relation to the genocide of Palestinian people, and his expressed support for the resistance movement fighting against the genocidal Israeli regime, as well as his position and that of the EFF on racial inequality in South Africa.

It accused the UK of cowardice and stifling of democratic debate and a pathetic expression of intolerance for those who hold different views from the UK administration, including its monarchy.

For a nation that preaches its commitment to democracy, the UK has revealed itself as an intolerant bully that seeks to impose its beliefs on the world without challenge, while denying democratically elected leaders of other nations the opportunity to express themselves in their country, the party added.