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, Fujian three years ago to open a clothes shop.

On Saturday, Yu's relative Xue Xuexiu was surprised to see the store was closed for the whole day. When he went to open the shop at about 11 PM, 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.

Graduating from Fujian College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 2002, Yu moved to South Africa and worked 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 may have some link to the 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 going to emigrate to Australia after his wedding.

Yu's father said the family are now busy applying for passports to go to South Africa to deal with the funeral.

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 when his body was found. He had been handcuffed to a tree and shot in the head.

The Chinese Consulate in Khabarovsk has asked local police to catch the murderer as soon as possible.

(China Daily October 25, 2005)