A 54-year-old Zambian national identified as Kenneth Sikopo has died after he was shot seven times by two unknown assailants in Germiston, South Africa.

Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa Emmanuel Mwamba has confirmed this in a statement issued to the media by his first secretary for press and public relations Naomi Nyawali.

The deceased, who was a businessman based in Germiston, is reported to have been shot last week around 20:00 hours at his business premises in the presence of his clients and friends.

Mwamba, who has expressed sadness over the development, revealed that the assailants entered the deceased’s internet café and immediately closed the exit doors, an indication that they were there only to kill as they fled the scene thereafter without stealing anything.

He said that police in that country have since launched a man-hunt and instituted investigations to ascertain the motive behind the killing.

He said that police have so far ruled out xenophobia as a motive for the deceased’s murder.

He disclosed that Sikopo’s mortal remains were taken to Germiston State mortuary and is scheduled to be buried at waterfall cemetery with the help of the Zambia Association in South Africa (ZASA) after his family in Zambia signed the affidavit to have him buried in South Africa.

He said the deceased had survived another attack a few months ago and further wished the Sikopo family God’s strengthen and comfort during the difficult time.