Luo Tianguang, director-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Department of Consular Affairs and also a special deputy of Foreign
Minister Li Zhaoxing, arrived in Johannesburg on Wednesday. He will
urge officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and the South
African Police Service to implement measures to protect the safety
of Chinese citizens.
Nine Chinese nationals have been killed in South Africa since
the start of the year, the most recent being the murder-robbery of
a visitor from Guangzhou, Guangdong Province.
During his stay, Luo will also visit family members of victims
and deputies of overseas Chinese in South Africa.
Luo said that Chinese safety in South Africa will be proposed as
an agenda item for South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma's
upcoming visit to China.
Kidnappings, robberies and shootings have been on the rise in
South Africa. The South African government reports that there were
52 armed robberies involving Chinese victims in the January-August
period this year. In the same period, nine Chinese people were
killed, eight injured and over US$900,000 lost.
Worldwide, 70 Chinese have been killed or injured this year.
Crimes against Chinese nationals in South Africa appear to have
escalated in the past two months.
On June 22, Mo Yiyan was shot and killed in his house in Brits
City, and his daughter Mo Ajuan was seriously injured. The
following day, Mo's friend Lin Wenbin was kidnapped while returning
home from the hospital after visiting Mo Ajuan. Lin's body was
later found near a bridge.
On July 16, Wang Xiande, on a business trip from Shanghai to
Johannesburg with his family, was robbed by two armed men. After
taking items from the family members, the assailants fired five
shots, killing Wang's cousin and wounding Wang.
The same day, Lin Dehai, who resided in Durban, was killed on
his way home.
The most recent case involved a man from Guangdong Province,
surnamed Li, who was visiting his brother and some other relatives
who were doing business in South Africa. Li went to dinner with his
brother and relatives at about 9:00 PM on August 27. They were
returning home after the meal when four armed men attacked them in
their courtyard.
They stabbed Li and then fled in the automobile with Li's mobile
phone and watch.
Li's carotid artery had been cut and he died from loss of
blood.
Deputy Consul General Wang Haifeng said that the embassy
immediately contacted the local police when it was notified of the
case, urging them to find the perpetrators swiftly and also to
protect the safety of Chinese nationals.
(China.org.cn by Wu Nanlan September 2, 2004)