The Dalai Lama has been refused a Visa to enter South Africa, while we still celebrate Bob Mugabe as a struggle icon.

Has South Africa gone mad or is it just me? The Dalai Lama has been a world campaigner to rid the Tibetans of China’s tyranny. South Africa too, was on the receiving end of a regime which robbed a people of their dignity and a decent way of life. One would think that given the history of South Africa (and the ANC); we would be the fist to sympathise with the Tibetan people. Perhaps I’m just naïve.

Reports in the media seem to suggest that the reason for this peculiar decision, is not to sour the relations between China and SA, in short we sold our souls to China. As part of civil society we must keep an eye on this new Chinese fixation on Africa. In his book; Dark Continent, My black arse, Sihle Khumalo describes how while back packing through Sudan, he was refused entry into two hotels because they were reserved for Chinese only. Is China the new colonialist of Africa? Or, has Africa lost its dignity?

Now China does not have a good human rights track record by any stretch of the imagination. This has been documented by many agencies and media groups the world over, but still the World Trade Organisation has accepted its membership, which makes it illegal for countries part of the WTO to stop doing business with China on moral grounds. Being a member of the WTO, SA is forced to tolerate China, but we seem to choose on our own to be best buddies.

On the other hand and just north of our borders we have the Zimbabwe phenomenon. Last year Zimbabwe had an election which the President only allowed his sympathizers to monitor. One of which is the African Union. The report issued by the African Union, was that the elections were not free and fair, but still the African Union and South Africa acknowledges President Mugabe as the rightful president of Zimbabwe. In fact, the government has criticised the MDC for not agreeing to Mugabe demands.

South Africa needs a revamp of its foreign policy.