To clear up the bad impression left by a series of murders over the past several years, South Africa Tourism Board officials yesterday pledged they would do everything to ensure the safety of Chinese tourists in their country.

Chinese media reports said more than 30 Chinese people have been murdered in South Africa since 2004. Many Chinese tourists carry large amounts of cash, instead of credit cards or traveler's checks, making them an easy target for criminals.

"We admit there have been some Chinese murdered and robbed in our country and feel sorry for it," said Joseph Ngobeni, assistant commissioner of communication and liaison services of the South African Police Service, in Shanghai yesterday. "But I assure each case has been thoroughly investigated, and one of the murderers has already been arrested."

Ngobeni said the murders didn't specifically target Chinese people, and he emphasized that none of the victims were tourists, they were all residents.

He suggested tourists not carry large amounts of cash with them.

"Besides, I think tourists had better not act singly when going to strange places," said Ngobeni.

According to Mangoba Nyembezi, tourism commissioner at the South African Embassy in China, governments in all nine provinces have already enhanced their power to combat serious and violent crimes and protect tourists from any country.

"In several of our provinces, we have established a group of tourist policemen who will specially protect tourists," said Nyembezi. More than 52,000 Chinese tourists visited South Africa last year.

(Shanghai Daily March 24, 2006)