South African tourists stranded in China
The group was left stranded after they fell victim to a scam and travelled to China with the wrong documents.
South Africa's foreign mission to China is working closely with that country's authorities to ensure the safe return of 51 South Africans back home, said the Department of International Relations (DIRCO) on Thursday.
The group had initially traveled to China, reportedly with an intention to teach English.
They were convinced by a bogus travel agent to use study visas.
"The promise was that they would get their work visas upon arrival in the country which never materialized," DIRCO said in a statement.
The department's Ndivhuwo Mabaya told Jacaranda FM News that both the South African and Chinese authorities are looking into the agent, "who has been operating for a while".
He further warned: "South Africans have to be extra careful of anything that looks too good to be true".
Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has described the matter as a priority for the department.