De Lille to give update on Nobel summit

Her office issued an advisory stating an "important announcement" would be made at the civic centre on Thursday afternoon.

 

The summit is scheduled to be held in the city from October 13 to October 15.

 

The Cape Argus reported on Wednesday that the summit had been called off, citing anonymous independent sources.

 

Nobel peace prize winner Jody Williams told Agence France-Presse (AFP) from India on Wednesday that the summit had been cancelled because "enough Nobel laureates refused to go".

 

AFP reported that Williams and five other laureates decided to boycott the event last month because Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama was unable to attend. It was the third time in five years he could not secure a visa to enter South Africa.

 

Earlier this month, 14 Nobel laureates wrote to President Jacob Zuma asking that a South African travel visa be granted to the Dalai Lama.

 

The presidency confirmed Zuma received the letter and that he would respond directly to the laureates.

 

At the time the international relations department said the Dalai Lama's visa application was a closed matter, and that he had cancelled his trip.

 

The Dalai Lama won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.

 

(File photo: Gallo Images)