Dalai Lama cancels South Africa visit over visa problem

The office of the Dalai Lama has written to South African authorities confirming the cancelation of his planned visit to the country following earlier reports of a visa row.

"The Department of International Relations and Cooperation has received written confirmation from the office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in India indicating that His Holiness has cancelled his planned visit to South Africa," the department said in a Thursday statement.

The department said that at the time of the receipt of the spiritual leader’s notification, the South African High Commission in New Delhi was still processing his visa application in line with due process relating to visa applications.

"Following the cancellation of the planned visit by the office of His Holiness, the Department now considers the matter to be closed," it added.

The Dalai Lama was planning a visit to South Africa to attend the 14th world summit of Nobel Peace Laureates next month.

This is the third time that the spiritual leader has canceled his trips to South Africa after failure to receive a visa.