The United Kingdom has once again denied Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema a visa, citing his controversial political views, support for banned organisations like Hamas, and a history of inflammatory rhetoric. The decision was confirmed in a letter from the UK Home Office dated June 17, 2025, which indicated that any future visa applications from Malema are unlikely to succeed unless he changes his positions.
According to the Home Office, Malema’s entry into the UK is considered “not conducive to the public good,” primarily due to concerns about his character, public statements, and associations. His outspoken support for Hamas — a group banned in the UK under terrorism laws — played a significant role in the refusal decision.
In particular, UK authorities highlighted Malema’s public statements made in 2024, in which the EFF declared its full backing for “the armed struggle of Hamas and Hezbollah.” Furthermore, Malema caused global outrage during a televised interview where he described the deadly 7 October attacks as “a legitimate act of resistance.”
The Home Office letter also cited Malema’s history of racially charged remarks as further reason for the refusal. One of the key examples mentioned was his controversial 2016 statement that the EFF was “not calling for the slaughter of white people — at least for now.” In addition, during a 2022 Equality Court case, Malema shocked many by refusing to rule out potentially making such calls in the future, telling the judge: “I can’t guarantee I won’t say it. I am not a prophet.”
These remarks, combined with his recent support for internationally recognised terrorist organisations, formed what the UK describes as a “pattern of unacceptable behaviour.” The UK’s immigration policies clearly state that justification, glorification, or incitement of terrorist violence and racial hatred are grounds for refusing entry.
“There is no right of appeal or administrative review in relation to this decision,” the Home Office concluded in its correspondence.
Previous Visa Controversy
This is not the first time Malema has faced difficulty obtaining a UK visa. Just last month, the EFF leader was prevented from travelling to the UK to attend the prestigious “Africa Together Conference” at Cambridge University. On that occasion, delays were blamed on UK public holidays and internal processing issues.
British High Commissioner Antony Phillipson later apologised to Malema in writing, acknowledging that the EFF delegation had submitted their visa applications on time with priority service. However, Phillipson stressed that he had no authority over visa decisions, which are handled independently by the Home Office.
Despite the apology, Malema criticised the process as politically motivated, accusing British authorities of attempting to “silence a dissenting political perspective.” He also revealed that his delegation had been led to believe that the visas would be approved by the time of departure, only to receive a rejection notice at OR Tambo International Airport.
With the latest refusal, it seems unlikely that Julius Malema will be setting foot in the UK anytime soon unless his political stance changes dramatically.