The man shot dead in a hijacking at Sinoville in Pretoria on Friday was identified as Khetang Eric Lerata (42), a manager at the Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (Necsa).
Lerata was shot dead in a hijacking outside his home on Friday morning. He was shot at close range after a scuffle with the hijackers. His driver was assaulted and was admitted to hospital.
The two men had returned from OR Tambo International Airport. Lerata had earlier flown in from a business trip in France.
He is survived by two daughters, aged nine and 14.
”Eric was recently promoted to his current position and was in the prime of his life, making an invaluable contribution to the nuclear renaissance in South Africa.
”He will be sadly missed by all his colleagues and associates,” Necsa said in a statement extending the company’s condolences to the Lerata family.
Lerata was completing his dissertation towards a PhD in engineering management at the University of North West at the time of his death.
He held a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Paisley in Scotland, and an MSc in engineering business management from the University of Warwick. — Sapa