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Two recent high-profile kidnappings involving Chinese nationals in South Africa have raised significant concerns about the safety of foreign businesspeople in the country. Local police are investigating the cases, which have not only alarmed the Chinese community but also highlighted the growing security challenges faced by small business owners.
The first incident occurred on the morning of November 13 in Govan Mbeki Avenue, a bustling commercial area in the Eastern Cape province. According to the Humewood Police Department, a 47-year-old Chinese businessman was about to open his store when three men forced him into a white Ford EcoSport and fled the scene. The vehicle was later found abandoned, but there was no sign of the victim. Police have launched an extensive investigation, though the victim’s whereabouts remain unknown.
This alarming case followed a similar kidnapping on September 30 in Kokstad, a small town in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province. In this incident, a 46-year-old Chinese businesswoman and her security guard were abducted as she was closing her shop. The assailants forced both individuals into the victim’s vehicle, which was later discovered abandoned in the Bongweni area. While the security guard was released nearby, the suspects disappeared with the businesswoman.
The kidnappers then demanded an exorbitant ransom from the woman’s family. Initially, they sought 15 million rand (approximately 6 million RMB). After extensive negotiations, the family paid 305,000 rand (roughly 122,000 RMB). However, the kidnappers failed to release the victim as promised and instead demanded an additional 1.2 million rand (about 481,000 RMB).
After weeks of investigation and coordination, South African authorities made significant progress in early November. On November 6, they apprehended a suspect, leading to further arrests in the following days. By November 8, seven suspects, aged between 21 and 48, had been detained in connection with the crime. The Chinese woman was rescued and taken to a hospital for medical evaluation.
These incidents have drawn widespread attention, not only among South Africa’s Chinese community but also from the broader public. While kidnappings targeting business owners are not uncommon in South Africa, the targeted attacks on Chinese nationals have sparked fear and concern among foreign investors.
