Uhh, I have just emerged from my cave and stand in awe that not only the planet did not succumb to global warming, what's more, Africa indeed has gone RVSM. I hereby retract my remark and thank Farrel for the enlightenment.
And while I'm at it, I will retract the rest of the post as well; according to a source I cannot disclose at the moment, the incident indeed was a true airprox.