Five calls for debate, plus four opposition statements on the subject of China, Tibet and the Dalai Lama drew zero response from government in the National Assembly on Tuesday.

"The rules allow the ministers to respond, but there is no rule that says that Ministers, like it or not, have to respond," House Chair Mildred Oliphant told Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) Member of Parliament (MP) Mario Ambrosini, who rose on a point of order on the matter.

Ambrosini told her: "I think that when there is an entire gallery packed with the [organisation] Friends of Tibet, and so many statements here have been made about Tibet, it is unconscionable for government not to give a single answer."

At the start of Ministers' response time, Speaker Max Sisulu told the House that there were 21 members of the executive - both Ministers and Deputy Ministers - present at the sitting.

While six of them stood to address other issues raised by MPs in motions and statements, not one alluded to China, Tibet or the Dalai Lama.

Earlier, opposition MPs from several parties - many wearing white silk scarves marking them as friends of Tibet - called for debate on the Dalai Lama's seeking limited autonomy for the homeland that he left to go into exile over 50 years ago.

Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Sandy Kalyan called on the government to grant the Dalai Lama a visa to visit South Africa "at a time of his choosing".

In March last year, government controversially refused the Dalai Lama a visa to enter South Africa.

Freedom Front Plus MP Corne Mulder told the House on Tuesday that his party supported a call for the Chinese government to negotiate with the Dalai Lama about self-determination for Tibet.

"[We] would like to seriously call on the African National Congress (ANC) representatives in Parliament today to give their support to the seeking of a peaceful solution for the human rights abuses by the Chinese government in Tibet, and the recognition of Tibet's right to self-determination," he said.

The Chinese army moved into Tibet in 1950, and following negotiations the next year, China assumed sovereignty of that country.

At a Parliamentary lunch earlier on Tuesday, IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi said that if politicians could not find the courage to speak up about human rights abuses in Tibet, "we must accept that our own democratic life is seriously ailing".

South Africa has close trade links with China, which has invested billions of dollars in the local economy.

President Jacob Zuma visited China with 13 Cabinet Ministers and a 370-strong business delegation last month to strengthen ties between the two countries.

The government is currently also negotiating with China to find a market for South Africa's surplus maize crop.