The terrorism threat in South Africa is low, but crime is the country’s most serious social problem. Robberies, theft, tailing and kidnappings targeting Chinese shop owners and companies happen regularly, often with large losses, so security has to be part of your business costs.
Most risks can be reduced through where you locate, how you handle cash, and your hours and routes. This page covers risks by city and type of crime, practical precautions, and verified police and consular numbers.
The overall picture
The MOFCOM country guide for South Africa (2025 edition) cites official figures for the first quarter of 2025: 162,000 contact crimes, including 11,000 common robberies and 32,000 aggravated robberies, plus 80,000 property crimes such as theft. The guide says robberies, theft and assaults against Chinese companies and citizens have occurred repeatedly in recent years and advises Chinese investors to hire security providers and combine guards with technical measures.
Residents can own guns legally: under the Firearms Control Act 2000, adults over 21 can apply for a licence after vetting. Armed robbers are therefore common; do not resist.
Unemployment is high and anti-foreigner sentiment flares up. Operation Dudula, founded in Soweto a few months after the July 2021 unrest under a “South Africans first” banner, has since organised marches against migrants in many places.
Risks by area
Johannesburg and Gauteng
Gauteng has the largest Chinese population and the most cases involving Chinese residents. On 6 September 2026 the Chinese Embassy reported a series of kidnappings of Chinese nationals in Selby and Germiston, Johannesburg. Kidnappers mainly targeted people running shops and liquor stores, striking during deliveries or near the shop, to demand ransom. The embassy advised those working in higher-risk areas to move out as soon as possible.
KwaZulu-Natal (Durban, Pietermaritzburg)
Unrest broke out in KwaZulu-Natal on 9 July 2021 after former president Jacob Zuma was jailed and spread to Johannesburg. The government reported at least 40,000 businesses looted, burned or damaged, 215 deaths and losses of about R50 billion. A China Mall in Camps Drift, Pietermaritzburg was set on fire. Reports suggested Chinese shops were not specifically targeted, but Chinese shops and factories were not spared. The Chinese Embassy told the community to take immediate precautions, organise joint defence and share information.
Cape Town, Pretoria and other cities
We found no recent official notices about Chinese residents in these cities. The MOFCOM guide’s advice applies nationwide: choose safe office and home locations, limit night-time trips and avoid unfamiliar areas.
Neighbouring countries
On 26 August 2026 the Chinese Embassy advised Chinese citizens not to travel to Eswatini for now. Check the latest embassy notices before crossing borders; for neighbouring countries see Southern Africa.
Main risks for Chinese residents
| Risk | Typical pattern | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Kidnapping for ransom | Shop and liquor store owners, during deliveries or near the shop | Chinese Embassy, September 2026 |
| Robbery, theft, tailing | Many Chinese company staff have been robbed or followed; losses are usually large | MOFCOM guide, 2025 |
| Riots and looting | Malls, shops and factories looted and burned during mass unrest | July 2021 unrest |
| Telecom fraud and online gambling rings | Chinese citizens lured by “high-pay jobs”; several arrested in South Africa and Eswatini in March 2026 | Chinese Embassy, March 2026 |
| Scams | Click-farming rebates, fake investments, “cheap currency exchange”, impersonating police or embassy staff | Chinese Embassy, March 2026 |
| Labour agent traps | Arriving without contract or work visa; unpaid wages, passports confiscated, detention | Chinese Embassy, January 2026 |
| Fake inspections | People who are not law enforcement demanding papers or searches | Chinese Embassy, July 2026 |
Practical precautions
Shop and home
- Choose neighbourhoods with good security for both business and home;
- Install remote CCTV and carry a portable panic button; stay in daily contact with family and neighbours;
- Plan escape and shelter routes in advance;
- Businesses can hire security firms and combine guards with technology.
Cash and personal information
- Use less cash and do not carry large amounts;
- Do not discuss business, payments or family assets in public;
- Do not share your address, movements, vehicles, routine or finances, including with staff and casual workers.
Getting around
- Adjust opening hours to avoid travelling alone early in the morning or at night;
- Vary commuting and stock-collection routes and times;
- If followed, drive to a police station or petrol station and, if needed, call a Chinese community association;
- Public transport is limited; the MOFCOM guide suggests renting or buying a car on arrival.
Staff and documents
- Employ legally, hire locals where possible, manage labour relations properly and know who your staff are;
- Carry copies or digital versions of your passport, visa and permit; for visa questions see South Africa visas and work permits;
- Cooperate with genuine inspections and identify yourself; do not hide or confront. If the person is not law enforcement, politely refuse and call the police.
If you are kidnapped or robbed
- Put your life first, stay calm and do not fight;
- Escape or call for help only when it is safe; do not reveal your wealth or promise ransom;
- Family should call the police at once, follow police negotiators’ advice, give details and cooperate;
- Also contact the Chinese Embassy or consulates and the Chinese Police-Community Cooperation Centre.
Emergency numbers
These numbers come from Chinese Embassy consular notices issued in 2026.
| Service | Number |
|---|---|
| South African Police | 10111 |
| Ambulance | 999 or 082911 |
| Chinese Embassy consular protection (24 hours) | 0027-10-4925583 |
| Consulate-General in Johannesburg | 0027-10-4986234 |
| Consulate-General in Cape Town | 0027-21-6747668 |
| Consulate-General in Durban | 0027-761742938 |
| MFA global consular hotline | 0086-10-12308 or 0086-10-65612308 |
| Chinese Police-Community Cooperation Centre | 0027-11-6229515, 0027-11-6228286 |
Consular protection and community support
Outside office hours the embassy’s 24-hour line transfers to the MFA 12308 hotline; because transfers can fail, the embassy recommends dialling 0086-10-12308 or 0086-10-65612308 directly. For what consular protection can and cannot do, see consular protection and assistance. If a relative goes missing, the embassy can tell you how to report it and where to get help, but cannot file the police report for you or search for the person.
The Chinese Police-Community Cooperation Centre, set up in January 2004 with support from the embassy and the Johannesburg consulate, links the Chinese community with the South African police and helps tackle crimes against Chinese residents. Other associations also run neighbourhood watch and information groups; see the Chinese community in South Africa. For choosing premises and insurance, see registering a company in South Africa, and for the overview, the South Africa guide for Chinese residents.
References
- Country Guide for Outward Investment and Cooperation: South Africa (2025 edition) (MOFCOM / CAITEC / Chinese Embassy Economic and Commercial Office, 2025)
- Embassy reminder: guard against kidnapping (Chinese) (Chinese Embassy in South Africa, 6 September 2026)
- Embassy reminder: comply with visa rules and employ workers lawfully (Chinese) (Chinese Embassy in South Africa, 29 July 2026)
- Embassy reminder: do not work illegally in South Africa (Chinese) (Chinese Embassy in South Africa, 19 January 2026)
- Embassy reminder: do not take part in telecom fraud or online gambling (Chinese) (Chinese Embassy in South Africa, 22 March 2026)
- Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in South Africa (Chinese Embassy in South Africa, accessed 2026)
- Consulate-General of the PRC in Cape Town (Chinese Consulate-General in Cape Town, accessed 2026)
- South Africa unrest hits 40,000 businesses, government says (AFP via Nation, July 2021)
- China Malls Looted and Burned in South Africa Riots (The China-Global South Project, 14 July 2021)
- Amid Escalating Violence in South Africa, Chinese Embassy Warns Its Citizens To Take Urgent Precautions (The China-Global South Project, 15 July 2021)