China is urging South Africa to thoroughly investigate several recent kidnapping cases in which Chinese people were taken while in South Africa, according to a report on China News Service.

Police counselor Wang Zhigang in China's South African embassy, along with other embassy staff, has been negotiating with those in charge of police affairs in Mpumalanga and Limpopo, asking them to conduct an investigation into the recent kidnappings, the report said.

Wang urged police in the two provinces to spare no efforts to catch the kidnappers, and to protect the lives and possessions of other Chinese people living in the country.

According to statistics, there have been six kidnapping cases where the victim was Chinese since the end of 2015. The cases have aroused panic in the country’s Chinese community.

Local authorities thought it unlikely that the perpetrator of these kidnappings is himself or herself Chinese; it is more likely that a South African is the culprit.

Four Chinese people were kidnapped by five armed robbers in front of their houses in Limpopo on the evening of Feb. 15, 2016. The four victims were released unharmed after the robbers received a ransom. According to authorities, the kidnappers possessed dangerous weapons like machine guns. Furthermore, the kidnappers were wearing bags on their heads.

Local authorities are currently investigating the cases and urge anyone with information to come forward.