JOHANNESBURG - Thirty-two Chinese nationals were killed in robberies, traffic accidents and other mishaps in South Africa in 2011, officials said Sunday.

Thirteen of the people died in robberies, the South Africa Chinese Community and Police Cooperation Center (SACCPCC) told Xinhua on Sunday.

Robbery is rampant in South Africa. On the evening of July 23, 2011, a Chinese businesswoman was shot dead when her shop was burglarized by five armed robbers in Nigel in the eastern province of Gauteng.

Johannesburg, the largest city and economic center in South Africa, is well-known for its high crime rate. It was reported that the city has one of the highest crime rates in the world.

Among 201 cases involving Chinese nationals last year, 161 occurred in Johannesburg.

On September 6, 2011, several armed robbers broke into a Chinese man's residence in Fourways in Johannesburg, and fatally shot him after failing to steal any cash.

The SACCPCC said the 201 reported cases involving Chinese nationals were only tip of the iceberg. That's because many of the victims did not report the crimes out of concern for causing themselves more trouble.

There are about 300,000 Chinese living in South Africa, about 100,000 in Johannesburg.

In recent years, South African police have carried out intensive operations against crime to improve social security.

However, safety remains dubious in South Africa. One Chinese youth was killed and two others injured at their residence in Johannesburg on the evening of March 8.