Cape Town, Oct 3 : The South African government’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation has said it will not make Tibetan leader Dalai Lama’s visa application public.

"The visa application is undergoing normal processes, and the outcome will be communicated to the applicant," News 24 quoted department spokesperson Clayson Monyela, as saying.

The Dalai Lama has been invited to attend Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu''s 80th birthday celebrations next weekend.

An unnamed department source said that he was apparently denied a visa over fears that it would affect the country’s relations with China.

He had previously applied for a visa two years ago, but was refused one.

Meanwhile, Democratic Alliance MP Masizole Mnqasela said the Dalai Lama''s visa should be decided by the Department of Home Affairs.

"This is quite clearly a home affairs issue, not a matter for the Department of international relations and co-operation. This is not an official state visit by the Tibetan spiritual leader and therefore does not require input from the minister of international relations," he said.

The Dalai Lama''s visa application was not a simple administrative issue, the Department of Home Affairs said in response to the DA.

"It remains a matter with political and diplomatic implications and therefore continues to be within the mandate of our international relations and co-operation department," spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said on Sunday.

“Accordingly its our Department of International Relations and Cooperation which remains saddled with the matter and not home affairs," it added. (ANI)