UK denies visa to radical S African politician

JOHANNESBURG: Britain has refused to grant an entry visa to a radical leftist South African politician at the centre of false US claims that whites in South Africa are facing persecution, a local media report said Wednesday.

The UK visa office said the presence of Julius Malema in Britain “would not be conducive to the public good”, including because of his vocal support for the Palestinian armed group Hamas, News24 reported, which has seen a copy of the rejection letter.

A British official confirmed the content of the report to AFP on condition of anonymity but would not give details.

Malema, 44, is leader of the small opposition and populist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), a Marxist-inspired and anti-capitalist party.