S.Africa's Shoprite eyes expansion in Africa -CEO

JOHANNESBURG, Sept 2 (Reuters) - South African retailer Shoprite (SHPJ.J) will continue to expand its operations in Africa, its chief executive officer (CEO) said on Tuesday.

Shoprite, which operates in 17 countries across Africa, the Indian Ocean Islands and southern Asia, is expected to start operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the next 9-15 months, CEO Whitey Basson told Reuters.

"The expansion is all for South Africa and Africa," Basson said in a telephone interview. "We've bought the land (in the DRC), we're in the process of building."

Basson said the company was also expanding its business in South Africa.

"Up till June 2009 we expect to open up 58 supermarkets, or more," he said. (Reporting by Serena Chaudhry)