The Chinese Embassy in Pretoria Monday urged South African police service to take effective measures to investigate four murder cases and bring the criminals to justice as soon as possible.  

Counselor Chen Ling said: "Since June this year, there have been some serious criminal acts targeted at the Chinese nationals. Four innocent Chinese business people were murdered. The criminals not only want their money, but also their lives."

While talking with M. M. Lefka, director of the National Evaluation Services of South African Police Service, Chen said, "All these criminal acts have threatened the lives and properties of the Chinese nationals living here in South Africa and aroused threat and fear among the Chinese communities in South Africa."

She listed the four murder cases. A Chinese man named Mo Yiyan was shot to death at his own shop at Celtis Center shop in Brits on June 22. A Chinese businessman named Lin Wenbin was hijacked in the same city on June 23 and his body was found under a bridge two days later. A lady Zhang Yali was attacked by two black men and shot dead in Witbank on July 16. On the same day, a Chinese businessman named Lin Dehai was shot dead by two armed black men on his way home from his shop in Durban.

The Chinese counselor said: "Everyday, the embassy receives many phone calls inquiring about these cases and the investigation results by the South African police. But so far none of the cases has been solved and the criminals have not been brought to justice."

"I urgently request that the South African Police Department take effective measures to investigate the murder cases and bring the criminals to justice as soon as possible," she said.

The counselor also urged the South African police to take effective measures to protect the lives and properties of the Chinese nationals. "Otherwise it is very difficult for us to soothe the families bereaved and explain to the Chinese people back at home."

"We believe life is the most important thing for mankind and it will affect the number of Chinese people coming to South Africa for tourism and investment if their safety of lives and property can not be guaranteed," she noted.

The South African director expressed his shock to the murder cases and sympathy to families of the dead. He pledged that South African Police will do their best to protect the Chinese nationals and bring criminals to justice.

(Xinhua News Agency July 27, 2004)