Why UK ban South Africa tough politician Julius Malema from di kontri

Dem don permanently deny one South Africa politician Julius Malema entry into United Kingdom.

UK Home Office tok say dem deem di controversial politician 'non-conducive to di public good', as dem cite both im character and association concerns.

Among di issues dem flag na Oga Malema public support for Hamas, one organization wey dey banned for UK under terrorism laws.

Dis na di second time in two months UK go deny di South Africa opposition leader entry into di kontri - but dem tell BBC say dis decision dey 'valid'.

Why UK deny Malema visa to di kontri

For one letter wey local media outlet News 24 publish, UK goment cite im vocal support for Hamas, wey include one speech e make afta di 7 October attacks. For im comment, e say im party go arm di group if dem come into power.

Dem also highlight im threat to call for di "slaughter of white pipo" plus to "take up arms" as reason for di rejection.

Di letter also mention say for 2022, during one Equality Court hearing, Malema tell di presiding judge say im no go fit not rule out such calls for future, e say: "I no fit guarantee say I no go tok am. I no be prophet."

More comments by di EFF for April 2024 — bin express full support for "di armed struggle of Hamas and Hezbollah" — and one televised interview wia Malema call di 7 October attacks "a legitimate act of resistance" also dey cited.

Im Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, wey come fourth for South Africa parliamentary election last year, bin condemn di decision as "cowardice" and say e go suppress democratic debate.

Malema feature well-well for one video wey US President Donald Trump play last month wen South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visit di White House.

Di Home Office letter bin reference dis as part of a pattern of "unacceptable behaviour" under UK immigration policy — defined to include incitement, justification, or glorification of terrorist violence and racial hatred.

"Your conduct, character and associations don make am undesirable to grant you entry to di UK," di letter conclude. "Right of appeal or administrative review in relation to dis decision no dey."

Previous Visa refusal

Dis na di second time, UK go deny Malema entry to dia kontri in just two months.

Dis one different from di one wey happun for May, wen dem ban Oga Malema from traveling to di UK for di "Africa Together Conference" for Cambridge University.

At di time, di British High Commission for South Africa issue one apology for delays in processing di application, dem cite UK public holidays plus internal processing times.

British High Commissioner Antony Phillipson personally tok sorry for one formal letter to Malema and im delegation, e agree say di group bin apply early and even pay for priority service.

"I renew my sincere apologies again… say di Home Office no fit process di applications in time on dis occasion," Phillipson tok, but add say im no get authority ova visa decision-making, wey lie solely wit di Home Office.

At di time, Malema tok say di delay dey politically motivated and e accuse UK authorities say dem dey try "silence a dissenting political perspective." E say dem make am believe say dem go resolve di mata by 3:30pm on di day of departure, only to receive a last-minute rejection notice at OR Tambo International Airport.

Malema na strong critic of wetin e see as "Western imperialism", and e advocate for di nationalisation of white-owned land for South Africa to address di legacy of colonialism and di racist system of apartheid.

White-minority rule end South Africa for 1994, wit di rise of Nelson Mandela and im African National Congress (ANC) to power.

Some of Malema critics for South Africa go likely welcome UK decision, and go hope say e go dey more careful wit im public statements for future.

But im supporters go likely argue say dem target am for expressing views wey UK find uncomfortable.

Official statistics show say South Africa unemployment rate don rise to 33%, and black pipo na di worst-affected.

EFF support-base, wey dey made up largely of young pipo, believe say more radical action dey needed to tackle racial inequality and injustices.

Di party bin get less dan 10% of di vote for 2024 election, dem fall from third to fourth spot afta dem lose support mostly to former President Jacob Zuma uMkhonto weSizwe (Spear of the Nation) party.

EFF Malema party react

Di party of Malema, EFF don react to di ban as dem accuse di UK of oppresing free speech by refusing dia party man a visa.

EFF criticise di decision by di UK Home Office to deny a visa to dia leader Malema.

According to National tok tok pesin of EFF, Commissar Thembi Msane wey tok on behalf of di party, she say di UK dey become 'bully'.

She add say UK wan dey 'impose dia belief on kontris witout challenge while denying democratically elected leaders of oda nations di opportunity to express demsef for dia kontri.'

"Di EFF wish to state say neither di commander or EFF go trade dia revolutionary belief for exchange for visa. Di UK and all dia allies fit keep dia visas and we go keep our African beliefs," di party tok tok pesin add.