Health Minister Barbara Hogan may face disciplinary action over her public criticism of the government’s visa ban on the Dalai Lama — but she has the support of many in her party.
Several senior ANC members interviewed by the Mail & Guardian this week said Hogan’s view that the Dalai Lama should be allowed entry to South Africa is shared by ”significant numbers in the party”. Many were shocked at the government’s hard-line stance, they said.
”We were all very surprised at the government’s decision. I have great respect for [the Dalai Lama] and I don’t understand why he was not allowed,” said a senior MP, who asked not to be named.
Another MP said a ”significant section” of the ANC agreed that the Tibetan leader should be allowed to come, but added: ”People don’t fully understand the meaning of the Chinese pressure on the South African government.”
The Dalai Lama was to have addressed a peace conference organised by the Premier Soccer League, but was refused an entry visa by the South African High Commission in India, where he lives.
Although the conference was not a government event the government was associated with it because of its informal connection with the 2010 World Cup.
The Tibetan leader was invited by former presidents Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, all Nobel Peace laureates. President Kgalema Motlanthe approved the conference without realising that the peace icon had been invited and it was he, with Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, who decided that the visa application should be refused.
Hogan broke ranks on Tuesday, telling a meeting of the South African National Aids Council in Pretoria that the government should ”apologise to the citizens of this country, because it is in your name that this great man, who has struggled for the rights of his country … has been denied access”. The visa refusal is an example of a government that is dismissive of human rights,” she said.
The Cabinet discussed her comments on Wednesday, deciding that Motlanthe would address the issue with Hogan.
ANC national executive member Enoch Godongwana told The Star that Hogan must be disciplined or ”do the honourable thing and resign” if she believes the government is not committed to human rights.
But her comments drew influential endorsement, including that of Constitutional Court judge Kate O’Regan and the General Council of the Bar, which said the incident drew parallels with the apartheid government’s refusal to grant the late ANC president, Nkosi Albert Luthuli, a passport to receive his Nobel Peace prize.
Hogan was unwilling to elaborate this week. Her spokesperson, Ayesha Ishmail, would say only that ”the minister has said what she wanted to say on this issue”.
It is understood that Hogan spoke out without consulting anyone in government — even President Kgalema Motlanthe, considered her close friend.
”She always speaks her mind,” said a source close to her. ”It’s an issue she feels strongly about, like many others in the ANC. People high up in the ANC are torn. She was the only one who dared [talk about] it publicly.”
Hogan did not consider the career consequences, the source added, saying ”[she] always regarded herself as a six-month minister”.
ANC sources said Hogan may be disciplined but is unlikely to lose her Cabinet seat before the elections.
”There’s great unhappiness about her comments. It’s considered a very negative trend to defy government decisions like this,” said one official.
Defending the visa ban a senior Luthuli House official, who also did not want to be named, said South Africa’s relationship with the Chinese government had improved since 2004, when the Dalai Lama last visited the country.
”New agreements were made and the relationship began to strengthen,” the official said. ”Our relationship with China is important. There are instances where … we have to ask ourselves: will it build our relationship?
”We’re governing — our interest is much broader. We don’t disrespect the Tibetans, but in our foreign policy consideration needs to be given to other things.”
Said another leader: ”He wouldn’t have made an innocent peace address — he would’ve used the opportunity, like Tutu did in the 1980s.”
The cancellation of the conference, sponsored by the Norwegian government to the tune of R4.5-million, has prompted Norwegian government ministers planning to meet the ANC to cancel their visit.
What they said this week
Friday March 20
Thabo Masebe, President Kgalema Motlanthe’s spokesperson, South Africa:
”The attention of the world on us in relation to us hosting the World Cup next year and we would like that to remain … the presence of the Dalai Lama would bring other issues into [sic] attention.”
Monday March 23
Thubten Samphel, the Dalai Lama’s spokesperson, India:
”Since His Holiness says he will not inconvenience any government we at the Tibetan administration will not issue any strong response. But we are certainly very disappointed.”
Monday March 23
Geir Lundestad, director of the Nobel Institute, Norway:
”It is disappointing that South Africa, which has received so much solidarity from the world, doesn’t want to give that solidarity to others.”
Monday March 23
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel laureate, South Africa:
”We are shamelessly succumbing to Chinese pressure. I feel deeply distressed.”
Tuesday March 24
Qin Gang, spokesman foreign ministry, China:
”All countries should respect China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and oppose Tibetan independence. We appreciate the relevant countries’ measures.”
Tuesday March 24
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, foreign minister, South Africa:
”If there is a sporting event it must remain a sporting event. We have seen how messy it can be if you begin to pull all sorts of issues into the sporting event.”
Wednesday March 25
Themba Maseko, head of government communications, South Africa:
”Our interests will be better served by making sure we don’t jeopardise our relations with China.”
… and in the past
November 26 2008
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma,
South Africa:
”The sports boycott [against apartheid South Africa] was one of the struggles we waged vigorously.”
April 11 1967
BJ Vorster, prime minister, in a speech to Parliament, South Africa:
”Sport is an area that shouldn’t be dragged into politics.”
Undated
The Dalai Lama, Tibet’s leader-in-exile, India:
”In the practice of tolerance one’s enemy is the best teacher.”