His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet has been invited to deliver a public lecture at Wits University on October 12, 2011.

He will address students, staff members, guests and the media on 'Non-Violence in the New Century: The Way Forward', the university said in a statement. This would be his second visit to Wits in the last ten years, subject to him being granted a visa by the South African government.

The visit will be hosted by Wits University, the Gandhi Centenary Committee, One Young World and Afrika Tikkun.

"We would encourage the South African government not to silence the voice of the Dalai Lama. We should welcome the opportunity to host him in South Africa and we should allow all voices to be heard in our democracy - a right for which we have fought with our lives," says Wits University vice-chancellor and principal Prof Loyiso Nongxa.

Gandhi Committee Chairperson Kirti Menon stated that ambassadors of non-violence are critical especially in our current climate of intolerance as well as social injustices in the world. "We welcome the opportunity to host the Dalai Lama who stands for Gandhian values," said Menon.

In the event of a visa not being secured by the Dalai Lama, inspirational speakers will lead the conversation and an on-screen presentation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's inspirational words.

The lecture, which is aimed at celebrating youth, interfaith dialogue, non-violence and non-violent methods of protest is held in conjunction with the Missing Millennium Development Goal campaign to end violence in the name of religion, a One Young World project on interfaith dialogue and development.

"We inhabit this earth together: we must share it as such - peacefully. That is what ubuntu teaches us, that is what the Missing Millennium Development Goal is, that is what His Holiness the Dalai Lama represents, and that is why His presence here is so important," says One Young World and Missing MDG host Kwadwo Ofori Owusu.

"This visit by His Holiness Dalai Lama would be a rare honour. It is our belief that such a visit would add to the culture of acceptance of diversity which is a core value that we embrace and teach. Afrika Tikkun continually strives to bring competent qualified world leaders to engage with our township communities," says Afrika Tikkun CEO Marc Lubner.