Photo: A screenshot from the WeChat account of the Chinese Embassy in South Africa

The Chinese Embassy in South Africa on Thursday issued a notice on its WeChat account, reminding Chinese nationals in the country to take effective precautions and avoid becoming targets of criminal activity. It also said the embassy will continue to press the police to step up efforts in handling the kidnapping case of a Chinese national in Gauteng Province.

On August 19, a Chinese national was kidnapped in Aeroton, south of Johannesburg in South Africa's Gauteng Province. The Chinese Embassy in South Africa and the Consulate-General in Johannesburg said they attached great importance to the case and immediately set up a special task force, said the notice.

The embassy quickly contacted senior officials of the South African Police Service and coordinated with the officers handling the investigation. Working with the South Africa-China Police Cooperation Center, the embassy and consulate also provided support to the victim's family and assisted them in filing a police report.

The consulate immediately dispatched officials to the scene, where they joined the Johannesburg police chief and local station director to inspect the site, review surveillance footage, and secure key evidence.

The Chinese Embassy and Consulate-General will continue urging police to step up efforts on the case, while reminding Chinese nationals in South Africa to follow security advisories, take precautions, and guard against criminal threats, according to the notice. 

Global Times