IFP MP Dr Mario GR Oriani-Ambrosini said:
Deputy President, Kgalema Motlanthe was reported today as having stated that the South African government could have issued an entry visa to the Dalai Lama had it not been for the Dalai Lama having cancelled his trip. How can the Deputy President insult the intelligence of all South African’s with such measure of contempt and disrespect for the will of the people? Setting aside that the Dalai Lama was supposed to attend a celebration taking place tomorrow, the hard fact is that the Dalai Lama’s passport and visa application are still before the South African High Commission in New Delhi and have not been withdrawn. Therefore if the Deputy President is true to his statement he should grant the visa today to save both our national dignity and the honour of his word.
Unfortunately this puerile behaviour echoes the conduct of the South African government in May 2009 when the High Commissioner in New Delhi went on record stating that he did not grant a visa to the Dalai Lama because the Dalai Lama had not applied for one when, in fact, it turned out that the South African government had instructed the Embassy not to accept the Dalai Lama’s application and several attempts made to hand in the application were rejected. Let us at least be serious so as to avoid additional insult to injury.
