Man shot dead in South Africa

A British man has been shot dead in South Africa, the Foreign Office said.

Officials named the man as Stephen Peters, from Wales. A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We can confirm the death of a British national in Pretoria on September 11. Consular staff in South Africa are in contact with the family and are providing consular assistance."

Mr Peters and his wife are understood to have been the victims of a botched robbery, according to reports. He is believed to be from the Canton area of Cardiff.

Mr Peters, 52, was visiting his 28-year-old niece in Centurion, Pretoria, when three men entered her bedroom, police in South Africa said.

BBC Online reported Mr Peters was in South Africa to say goodbye to his terminally-ill sister-in-law. The website said she is suffering from cancer and Mr Peters had travelled from Wales to visit her.

South African police said Mr Peters pleaded with the robbers not to hurt his family shortly before he was shot in front of his wife, niece and her baby.

After the shooting, the robbers tied up the other adults with shoe laces and tied belts around their mouths before continuing to search the woman's bedroom, asking where their mobile phones were kept.

They turned the lights off and left the home in the Mercedes Benz with a mobile phone and computer. They then returned to ask the 28-year-old how to put the car in reverse as she was struggling to free herself.

The death follows the fatal shooting of fellow Welshman Fred Picton-Turbervill in Pretoria in January.

The 46-year-old father-of-six, originally from Ewenny, near Bridgend, was killed in front of his wife and children by armed robbers who stole a laptop, mobile phones and cash.