Malema gets visa
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Thursday September 4, 2014 15:56
Malema remains the only known South African listed by Botswana as needing a visa to enter its borders.
The EFF leader is scheduled to attend the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) star rally in Molepolole North, where Borakalalo ward council candidate Arafat Khan will be launched on September 13.
Malema incurred the wrath of the government of Botswana in June last year after he called for removal of President Ian Khama and his administration. That, he said at the time, would be possible only if the opposition united “and established a “Botswana command team” to remove “Khama’s puppet regime”.
Malema was angry at Botswana as he believed the country was a puppet of the US and had provided America with a military base. Soon after making those remarks, Malema, then African National Congress Youth Leader, was expelled by his party. The ANC also quickly moved to distance itself from his “unfortunate” comments.
Now the UDC, made up of the party that had visited Malema in 2013 when he made his outburst, the Botswana National Front (BNF), the Botswana People’s Party (BPP) and Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD), which broke away from the ruling Botswana Democratic Party, has invited him to a campaign.
He is scheduled to attend their star rally in his official capacity as EFF Commander-in-Chief. However, he is also expected to address a BNF indoor meeting. It is not clear if he will also address the BPP and BMD. Labour and Home Affairs Minister Edwin Batshu said yesterday he was not sure if Malema had applied for a visa.
“Last I heard, he had told our High Commission in South Africa he would apply. I do not know if he has done so,” he said.
Batshu also said he was not involved in the issuance of visas, “unless there is a problem, or there is an appeal.”
Batshu’s right-hand man, permanent secretary Ikotlaheng Bagopi said recently Malema’s status as a Member of Parliament would not automatically grant him a visa.
“Malema will have to apply for a visa … As you are aware, the diplomatic passport he is in possession of was given to him by the South African government, but that does not mean he is free to come to Botswana without applying for a visa,” said Bagopi.
While the EFF said yesterday Malema did apply, the party’s spokesperson would neither confirm nor deny his application save to say they would be issuing a press statement.
The EFF also shared a copy of the visa application with Mmegi. Malema’s scrawl on the document indicates he is the “EFF President” and that his is a “political visit”.
A four-strong delegation comprising EFF chief operation officer Magdeline Moonsmi, EFF mouthpiece Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, advocate Dali Mpofu and MP Andile Mngxitam will accompany Malema. The Botswana High Commission in South Africa, through its First Secretary for Political Affairs Tshepo Sebego issued a curt “The High Commission of Republic of Botswana to the Republic of South Africa wishes to inform you that matters concerning applications for entry visas by clients/potential clients are confidential and may not be discussed with third parties”.