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A protest outside Parliament against Government denying the Dalai Lama a visa to enter South Africa. Picture: Ross Jansen

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The Gandhi Development Trust says it is disappointed that the South African authorities have snubbed the Dalai Lama, by not granting him a visa to visit the country.

Trust chairwoman Ela Gandhi said this was the second time the ANC-led government had taken such a decision.

The Tibetan spiritual leader’s office in Dharamshala, India, on Tuesday said the Dalai Lama called off his visit to South Africa because he had not been granted a visa in time.

“His Holiness was to depart for South Africa on October 6 but the visas have not been granted. For whatever reason, or reasons, the South African government finds it inconvenient to issue a visa to the Dalai Lama.

“His holiness travels around the world promoting human values, religious harmony, world peace, and compassion: principles that form the core of his communication and interactions everywhere. And in doing so, His holiness does not want to create any inconveniences to anyone, individuals or governments,” said the statement.

Disappointed

Gandhi said although she was disappointed, the Trust’s peace and reconciliation event would go ahead.

“We will either try to get his message by email, or via skype,” said Gandhi whose Trust had invited the Dalai Lama to accept the ninth Mahatma Gandhi International Award for Reconciliation and Peace at the Durban City Hall on Sunday at 2pm.

The Desmond Tutu Peace Centre lamented the government's reluctance to allow the Dalai Lama into the country.

“This is the darkest day. Our government officials felt it was not even important to respond to his application,” said the centre's spokeswoman Nomfundo Wazala.

There was been a lot of criticism at the government’s procrastination over the application made by the Dalai Lama for a visa to enter South Africa through the South African High Commission in New Delhi.

On Monday night, 100 people, including civil society organisations, religious leaders and politicians, held a candlelight vigil and protest outside Parliament in Cape Town demanding the government allow the Tibetan spiritual leader to visit the country.

A petition campaign campaigning for the Dalai Lama’s visit to South Africa saw 1 145 signatures signed by high profile spiritual leaders, academics and politicians.

The visit to South Africa was prompted by an invitation from fellow Nobel prize Laureate, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, for the Dalai Lama to join him to celebrate his 80th birthday in Cape Town this weekend. Three days of celebrations are planned for Tutu, whose birthday is on Friday.

Gandhi had earlier said should the Dalai Lama’s visa not be forthcoming, then they would look into the possibility of skyping him in Dharamsala, which was still to be confirmed.

The Department of International Relations and Co-operation reportedly said the decision on the visa application would not be made public. However, Gandhi said the applicant could go to court and demand reasons as to why the application had been denied.

Minority Front Leader Amichand Rajbansi said: “It is South Africa’s day of shame. It has indirectly hurled an insult to one of the country’s greatest statesmen (Archbishop Desmond Tutu)”.

He said Dalai Lama was also coming to this country to receive an award linked to Mahatma Gandhi. “It can take a leaf from India. South Africa’s moral regeneration programme is at its lowest end. Madiba (former President Nelson Mandela ) will not have allowed such a thing to happen,” said Rajbansi.

IFP’s Narend Singh said the party had openly been supportive of what Dalai Lama stands for.

“Our leader, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, has expressed this in parliament of several occasions. It is evident , the government has been dilly dallying over Dalai Lama’s visa application. It would seem economic considerations have been over-ridden by sound judgement,” said Singh.

DA’s MPL George Mari said it was an “absolute disgrace” the Government did not grant a visa to such a highly rated spiritual leader. “It is obvious the Chinese government is influencing the South African authorities with its economic clout,”

ANC’s Logie Naidoo, speaker in the house at the eThekwini Municipality, said the Dalai Lama had himself taken the decision of cancelling his visit to South Africa. Naidoo said he should have awaited the decision of the South African government on his visa application.

“As a representative of the Government, I have the highest of respect for him. I shared the stage with him at the Divine Life Society at La Mercy on the north coast in 2004. I think the South African government has to also take into consideration its international relationship with its trading partner, China. - POST, page 3