A man from east China's Fujian
Province living in South Africa was brutally murdered in
Meyerton, a town 60 kilometers south of Johannesburg, on
Saturday.
The 30-year-old, named Yu Min, came to South Africa from Fuqing
three years ago to open a clothes shop.
On Saturday, Yu's relative Xue Xuexiu was surprised to see the
store closed for the day. When he returned at about 11:00 PM to
open the shop, he found Yu with electrical wires bound around his
neck and stab wounds to the body.
Officials with the Chinese Consulate-General in Johannesburg
said the case is under investigation.
According to Xue, local police found fingerprints at the scene
but have not identified any suspects.
Yu's parents, both retired, living in Sanshan Township, Fuqing,
learned of their son's murder early on Sunday.
Yu Daoguan, Yu's father, told reporters that other relatives are
also living in South Africa.
After graduating from Fujian College of Traditional Chinese
Medicine in 2002, Yu moved to South Africa to work for his aunt who
had been living there for years.
He then opened his own shop selling clothes and textile
products, accruing savings of more than 100,000 yuan
(US$12,363).
Yu's father said Yu could speak good English and had legal
residence in South Africa.
His legal status meant he was often called on to help illegal
Fuqing immigrants mail money back to their families, a situation
Yu's family believe might have had a link to his murder.
According to his mother, Guo Baoying, Yu was planning to come
home to get married on November 1.
He had also told his family that, because of the poor security
situation in South Africa, he was planning on emigrating to
Australia after his wedding.
Yu's father said the family is now busy applying for passports
to go to South Africa to handle funeral arrangements.
Officials with the Chinese Consulate-General in Johannesburg
have said they will do everything they can to help the family.
A similar tragedy, concerning a Chinese businessman found
murdered in Khabarovsk, Russia, was reported yesterday by China
News Services.
The man had been missing for several days before he was found
handcuffed to a tree and with a gunshot wound to the head.
No further details on the matter were released.
The Chinese Consulate in Khabarovsk has asked local police to
solve the case as soon as possible.
(China Daily October 25, 2005)