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The Independent Democrats (ID) Parliamentary Leader and spokesperson on Home Affairs Joe Mcgluwa says it with grave concern that the party notes the cancellation of the Dalai Lama’s trip to South Africa.

‘This is a slap in the face for our new democracy,’ says Mr Mcgluwa.

‘For the department of Home Affairs to be in possession of the Dalai Lama’s visa application since 29 August 2011, coupled with the fact that the department did not have a legitimate answer regarding the visa status by Monday, does not only reflect the incompetence of the department, but also the bad service we as South Africans and foreign nationals are subjected to.

‘Both the minister of home affairs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and her department has a lot of explaining to do as this is the second time that the processing of the Dalai Lama’s visa application has been delayed and or declined. The department of home affairs must take full responsibility for the delay,’ Mcgluwa says.