Dalai Lama to visit Cape Town in December

CAPE TOWN, Nov 4 (Reuters) - The Dalai Lama will visit South Africa next month for the second time, spending two days teaching in Durban followed by three days of public events in Cape Town, his spokesman said on Thursday.

"His holiness has had a long desire to be in Africa. His visit in 1996 was a major fulfilment of his dreams," Tashi Phunstok, the Southern African representative of the exiled Tibetan religious leader, told reporters.

During his visit in August 1996, the Dalai Lama met former president Nelson Mandela and veteran African National Congress leader Walter Sisulu.

Phunstock said there were no plans at present to meet new South African President Thabo Mbeki.

During his three day stay in Cape Town from December 7 to 9, the Dalai Lama will give a lecture on ethics for the new millennium, visit the Guguletu township and give the closing speech to the week-long parliament of world religions.

His last act in the country will be to open the three-day world festival of sacred music that will take place in the famous Kirstenbosch botanical gardens. "The presence of the Dalai Lama in this city and the message of peace he brings will consolidate the work we are currently doing," Cape Town Mayor Nomaindia Mfeketo said.