A Sad Ending to Search for Missing PE Teacher

We are so sad to report that the body of Jayde Panayiotou has been found this morning.

Desperate messages to help find the 28-year-old teacher from Port Elizabeth (PE) had been shared on social media in the past 24 hours, since she went missing yesterday morning.

In one Monica Dimopoulos said “my cousin’s wife in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, was kidnapped this morning…she is still missing…Please all pray for her safe return.”

In another, Jayde’s sister pleaded with users of social media to please report if they saw or heard anything about Jayde’s disappearance.

A reward was offered by Jayde’s family for her safe return and an intense search for her continued through the night.

Jayde was abducted from outside her Kabega Park residential complex in PE yesterday at about 6.30 am.

She was due to be picked up within minutes by fellow teacher and friend Cherise Swanepoel as they carpooled to Riebeek College Girls’ High School in Uitenhage.

An ATM withdrawal from Jayde’s bank account was made shortly after her disappearance.

This morning Brigadier Marinda Mills said in a statement on the South African Police Services (SAPS) website that “this morning at about 10:00 the crew of the SAPS helicopter participating in the search for her noticed an object in an isolated area near KwaNobuhle Township in Uitenhage.

“Further investigation by members on the ground led to the recovery of the body of Ms Panayiotou in the area spotted from the helicopter.”

Nobody has yet been arrested but SAPS has published the picture below of “a person who might be able to assist the police with investigation.” Brigadier Mills urges anyone with information to please contact Crime Stop at 0800 10111.

It’s been a tough couple of weeks in South Africa with the world’s eyes on the “xeonophobia” attacks in KwaZulu-Natal and Johannesburg. Ironically, many foreign nationals from other parts of Africa and the world have expressed surprise that South Africans have killed fellow “brothers” from Africa while they will not even “slap” a white person (a quote which has been attributed to Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe).

As those who live in South Africa know, this is far from true. South Africans of all colours have experienced brutal and often gruesome murders at the hands of criminals. South African Twitter user Kevin King tweeted: “We live in a country where u must be vigilant every second of every day, much like armed forces at war, else it could cost you. #RIPJayde”

Our condolences to Jayde’s family and friends, and to all those who have lost loved ones under similar circumstances. In the words of Brent Lindeque of Random Acts of Kindness fame “Today my heart belongs to all the family & friends of Jayde. I have no words. #RIPJayde #JaydePanayiotou.”

UPDATE: See video as South Africans march for Jayde in PE & stand in solidarity against violence.