Chinese Embassy in South Africa warns of spate of kidnappings targeting Chinese women
Multiple kidnappings targeting female Chinese nationals have occurred in various regions of South Africa since June, especially in Gauteng and Eastern Cape provinces, the Chinese Embassy in South Africa warned on Sunday, urging all overseas Chinese in the country to enhance their safety awareness and take extra precautions.
In a warning issued on its official WeChat account on Sunday, the embassy said that the kidnappers tend to attack on weekends, targeting Chinese nationals during commuting hours or after shops have closed. These incidents pose a serious threat to the personal safety and property of the Chinese community.
The embassy said that due to the overall deteriorating security situation in South Africa, the outlook for violent incidents involving Chinese nationals remains grim, warning overseas Chinese to observe the suspicious activities around their homes and businesses, especially around weekends when criminals tend to commit crimes as law enforcement authorities are less responsive.
Female Chinese nationals are advised to avoid going out alone. If unavoidable, they should inform family or friends promptly about their whereabouts, the embassy said.
As criminals usually conduct thorough surveillance before committing crimes, the embassy suggested to pay attention to suspicious vehicles and individuals around shops and prevent collusion between employees and criminals. Pay attention to being followed, change routes frequently, avoid displaying wealth.
The embassy reminded Chinese nationals to use trackers, one-click emergency alarms, or enable remote location tracking on the phone and share account access details, so that in the event of a disappearance, the police can carry out a timely search. In the event of a kidnapping, victims are urged to stay calm, avoid direct confrontation with the kidnappers, and not reveal personal or family financial information.
Families of kidnapped individuals should report to police immediately and avoid disclosing case details to unrelated parties. They should follow the advice of police negotiation experts and refrain from making promises of large ransom payments, said the embassy.
The embassy provided emergency contact numbers, including South Africa's police and medical hotlines, the Chinese Foreign Ministry's global consular protection number, and contact details for Chinese embassies and consulates in South Africa.
One week earlier, the embassy issued a warning that Chinese tourists planning to visit South Africa during the approaching summer holiday should strengthen personal safety measures and ensure a secure trip as several Chinese nationals in South Africa have been kidnapped in recent weeks.