DEMOCRATIC Republic of Congo (DRC) President Joseph Kabila on Thursday held talks in Johannesburg with trade officials, Congolese exiles and former president Nelson Mandela and called for closer ties between South Africa and his wartorn country. Kabila, visiting South Africa with 10 of his cabinet ministers, told reporters: “I have come to try to build a bridge between the people of South Africa and the Congo.” During a brief visit to Soweto township near here, Kabila said he believed an end was in sight to the three-year-old war in the former Zaire which has also drawn in Uganda on the side of the rebels and Zimbabwe, Angola and Namibia in support of the government. “I have a lot of hope that 2001 will be the year of peace, reconciliation and reconstruction in our country.” – AFP