DRC killing 'deal gone wrong'

2003-11-24 18:29

Kinshasa - Foreign affairs has identified the South African killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo as John Jephson.

It said Jephson and colleagues from a mining house were apparently attacked at a roadblock between Likasi and Kolwezi on Friday. They were on their way to Lubumbashi.

Jephson was killed and two of his Canadian colleagues injured.

The pair are receiving medical treatment in South Africa.

Gunmen wearing military uniforms shot at the men and security forces are investigating the possibility that the shooting might have stemmed from a soured business deal.

A South African consular official in neighbouring Rwanda, Ledogang Sefolo, said no money was taken.

Ngoy Mukena, governor of Katanga Province, said it wasn't known if the gunmen were Congolese troops, or bandits in soldiers' uniforms.

No arrests have been made.

Rebel and foreign forces are battling for control of the DRC's mineral resources - including gold, diamonds and the coltan used to build some cellphones and other electronic devices.

- SAPA