South African taxpayers could be forced to pay R50-million to save the Democratic Republic of Congo peace talks, SABC television news reported on Tuesday. Delegates are due to converge on Sun City in the North West at the end of January for the next round of talks. According to Sir Ketumile Masire, the DRC peace facilitator, the talks could flounder if the requisite amount of cash needed to bring all the players together is not found. South Africa has undertaken to host the next round of peace talks, but little funding has been forthcoming from other Southern African Development Community members. SADC executive secretary Prega Ramsamy said he hoped the South African government could step in to make a sizeable monetary contribution in the interests of peace. – Sapa