QUESTION NO. 198  (NO3782E)

PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 32-2011 OF 18 OCTOBER 2011   

Mr GBD McIntosh (COPE) to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation:

What are the reasons for her department not expediting the visa application of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama of Tibet in light of his standing in the world and that his previous visit to South Africa that took place without any incident?

REPLY:

The visa application matter pertaining to His Holiness, the Dalai Lama is now sub judice, after the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and the Congress of the People (COPE) instituted court proceedings at the Cape High Court on Monday, the 18th of October 2011. 

Therefore, the Minister is, regrettably,  not in a position to reply until the pending court proceedings are concluded.

UNQUOTE