Nelson Mandela’s Grandson Denied U.K. Visa For Pro-Palestine Speaking Tour

Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Zwelivelile Mandela, has been unable to enter the United Kingdom for a planned speaking tour due to visa issues.

Mandela was scheduled to speak at pro-Palestine events across eight U.K. cities, but he had to cancel his flight after he was denied a U.K. visa. He is still expected to visit Dublin, Ireland, where his visa requirement was waived.

Mandela had planned to speak in Sheffield to start the tour, but now he will address the event via Zoom.

According to the Sheffield Palestine Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid, British officials initially informed him that his South African passport did not require a visa. However, on Monday, he was told that he did need a visa, which has not been issued despite appeals, the Sheffield pro-Palestine movement said Thursday.

This development comes after earlier reports suggested Mandela’s visa might be under scrutiny due to his support of Hamas, which is considered a terrorist organisation in the U.K. He was formerly a member of parliament in the South Africa National Assembly until May 2024.

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