Malema was scheduled to travel to Britain two weeks ago to address the Africa Together Conference at Cambridge University, but his trip was thwarted by the visa delay.

The UK delegation met with Members of Parliament on the Defence Portfolio and International Relations Committees, discussing a range of issues including international alliances and defence partnerships. The visiting group includes MPs from both the Conservative and Labour parties.

EFF member Carl Niehaus raised the visa matter during the engagement.

In response, Syed Kamall, a member of the House of Lords, said “It’s been raised with us. By the way, we are from different parties, and we are not spokespersons for the government, but that’s not an excuse, it’s a fact. What we will do is raise it with our British consul tonight and find out the facts. From what I know and this is not official, I do not think there was a plan to exclude the EFF. I suspect, frankly, and I shouldn’t be saying this on camera, but we all know what bureaucracies are like, and sometimes, frankly, it could well have been a result of bureaucracy. But we will take that back.”

The matter remains under review, with the UK delegates expected to follow up through the appropriate diplomatic channels.

--ChannelAfrica--