AfriForum overjoyed at Malema's UK-visa denial

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AfriForum has welcomed the United Kingdom’s failure to process Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema’s visa application in time for his scheduled appearance at Cambridge University, describing the development as “great news”.

Call for Global Intervention

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel said the decision marked progress in the Afrikaner lobby group’s ongoing campaign to hold Malema accountable on the international stage.

AfriForum has accused Malema of inciting violence through the controversial “Kill the Boer” chant and called on foreign governments to take punitive steps against him.

Criticism of Ramaphosa’s Silence

AfriForum has long criticised Malema’s rhetoric, particularly the “Kill the Boer” chant, which it views as hate speech.

AfriForum also criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa for what it called a deliberate refusal to speak out against Malema’s controversial chant.

“South African courts have failed to protect Afrikaners from calls for violence, and the Presidency has refused to condemn the chant,” the post read.

The group is urging international institutions to treat the chant as incitement and act, as it stated, “international intervention is now necessary.”

Visa Refusal Sparks Broader Debate

Malema had been invited to speak at Cambridge University’s Africa Together Conference on 10 May.

However, delays in visa processing meant he could not travel. The UK Home Office cited procedural timelines and recent public holidays as reasons for not completing the application in time.

The incident has since triggered renewed debate about freedom of speech, political expression, and the role of international pressure in South African affairs.