Presidency takes exception to Mayor's utterances

03 October 2014

The Presidency takes strong exception to the attack on the South African government by the Executive Mayor of the City of Cape Town, Ms Patricia de Lille, who has blamed government for the cancellation of the 14th World Summit of Nobel Laureates.

The Mayor has accused government of not providing a visa to His Holiness the Dalai Lama to participate in the 14th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Cape Town from 13 to 15 October 2014, which in her view led to the cancellation of the Summit. This is inaccurate and misleading. The South African Government was informed by the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama that His Holiness will not be attending the said summit, thus effectively cancelling his visa application.

We pride ourselves in South Africa of having produced Nobel Laureates and hold all Laureates in the world in the highest regard.

We take strong exception to the utterances of the Mayor of Cape Town which have cast aspersions on the integrity of the South African government and the country.

Statement issued by Mac Maharaj, The Presidency, October 3 2014

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