29th March 2009

Last week was a bad one, in some respects, for South Africa.  Why? Because the government again scored an own goal – this time with its handling of the Dalai Lama visa issue.

The ANC-led government decided that the Tibetan spiritual and (it must be said) political leader would not be granted a visa to visit South Africa for a peace conference linked to the upcoming 2010 Soccer World Cup.

A number of Nobel Peace Prize Laureates were scheduled to attend the conference, including The Arch and former president FW De Klerk. They pulled out of the conference, scheduled for Friday 27th March 2009, citing the government’s refusal of a visa to the Tibetan leader. Why the denial, I hear you ask.

Well reports said the government was concerned about the timing of the visit, ahead of the World Cup. There were apparently concerns that the visit would offend China, a major trading partner of South Africa.

Be that as it may, Pretoria could have handled the issue so much better than it did. Firstly by stating its clear and unequivocal commitment to human rights. Second by ensuring government speak with one voice on the matter. Health Minister Barbara Hogan ruffled feathers with her public criticism of the decision to deny the Dalai Lama a visa. Finance Minister Trevor Manuel waded in with his opinion. Then the Foreign Minister had a go. It was a mess.

We all understand the importance China has as a trading partner for South Africa. But government needs to take a more finessed approach to these matters. The sensitivity of the Dalai Lama’s visit should have been foreseen well in advance. A clear government position needed to have been prepared and articulated to the media and public.

But in the final analysis, government’s commitment to human rights and democracy should have, in my opinion, trumped the economic benefits of placating China.