South Africa's refusal to issue a visa to the Dalai Lama did not undermine human rights, the president of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party said.

"I don't think it amounts to the undermining of the human rights. I think this country is more sensitive to human rights than many," Jacob Zuma, the ANC president, said Thursday at a meeting with Afrikaner professionals and business people in Pretoria.

"What should have happened so that it should not have had to reach this point, there should have been consultation as people were beginning to say this is what we want to do," Zuma said.

South Africa on Monday refused to issue a visa to the Dalai Lama, who was to attend a now-postponed peace conference in Johannesburg.

No invitation was extended to the Dalai Lama to visit South Africa, so therefore, the question of the visa doesn't exist, the government said.