SA poet denied UK entry after visa snag

AN acclaimed South African poet and author has been denied access to the United Kingdom‚ despite the country falling in love with him for describing the University of Oxford as “Disneyland for nerds”.

Athol Williams – author of Pushing Boulders and the Oaky series of children’s books – was set to return to Oxford yesterday.

But he was forced to shelve his return after he was denied his entry visa to the UK.

The head of school literacy programme Read to Rise attained his masters in political theory from Oxford and was to start his PhD in political theory shortly.

Williams‚ who also holds masters degrees from other top universities in the world‚ including Harvard‚ said he planned to reapply for his visa after it was initially rejected. This was after he spent nearly six weeks back in South Africa.

“I am hoping that the visa denial is just a technicality . . . I will reapply. I don’t yet think there is anything sinister.”

He is concerned that his studies will be set back by his visa denial.

“I’ll miss important sessions right at the start of the new degree.

“I have asked the university for advice on how best to proceed. I’m waiting.”

During an Africa Oxford Initiative, Williams referred to the university as “Disneyland for nerds”.

A short clip from the interview was posted by Oxford on its Facebook page and has received nearly 20 000 views.