His Holiness the Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama has applied for a South African visa to visit Desmond Tutu on the Arch Bishop’s 80th birthday. Why does he need a visa? Because he was barred entry to South Africa in 2009 to ensure that ties with our key trade partner, China weren’t jeopardised.

The Dalai Lama is due to give a lecture as part of events to celebrate Tutu’s birthday on October 7. The following day, he will deliver the inaugural Desmond Tutu International Peace Lecture in Cape Town. This event will not be open to the public.

Home affairs spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa said that they received his application yesterday: “We have confirmed receipt of the visa application by the Dalai Lama through our mission in New Delhi, India.”

In 2009, Desmond Tutu criticised South Africa’s barring of entry to his fellow Nobel Peace Prize laureate to attend a peace conference in Johannesburg, with the government saying that it did not want to jeopardise relations with China. Foreign minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane later said that the Dalai Lama was free to visit the country and that the decision had been poorly communicated.

Poorly. Indeed.

[Source: iafrica]