African News Agency and Siyavuya Mzantsi
PORT ELIZABETH: While the distraught family of slain Port Elizabeth teacher Jayde Panayiotou, 29, are still battling to come to terms with her death, a close family member is set to appear in court in connection with her murder today.
The family member – who cannot be named until he has been charged – was arrested on Wednesday when police nabbed him at an Uitenhage address after 10pm.
This came after police set a trap for the man believed to be the alleged mastermind behind Panayiotou’s killing.
According to police sources, they were able to swoop on the suspect after he made contact with a bouncer at an Algoa Park pub regarding extra money that reportedly needed to be paid for the alleged hit on the teacher.
The bouncer, Luthando Siyoli, 31, allegedly demanded more money from the relative, saying he needed it due to the hype and huge public interest surrounding Panayiotou’s killing.
The family member was arrested after a week of intense investigation by members of the Hawks.
Leading Port Elizabeth attorney Alwyn Griebenow confirmed that he was representing the relative.
The popular Riebeek College schoolteacher’s body was found on a farm in Rocklands, near Uitenhage, on April 22 at 10am. She had been shot in the head and upper body.
It is believed that Siyoli was allegedly involved in the abduction and kidnapping of Panayiotou. The motive for the murder remains unknown, while another suspect is still at large.
During a media briefing following the relative’s arrest, provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Marinda Mills said a prima facie case against the two suspects existed. Police also confirmed that robbery had been ruled out as a motive for the murder.
The case had at first seemed to be a run-of-the-mill abduction and murder after it emerged that she was taken while waiting for a lift to school outside the townhouse complex where she shared a home with her husband, Christopher, 28.
After her body was found, thousands of Port Elizabeth residents took part in a march in Kabega Park in her memory, calling for the death penalty to be reinstated.
Social media sites have also been abuzz from the time of her initial disappearance to the finding of her body and the subsequent arrests.
Mills, though, warned people not to take to social media to vent their frustrations or to speculate as this could hinder the police investigation.
Griebenow also called for calm on social media.
Asked for comment yesterday, she said: “The SAPS will be commenting again in this case tomorrow (Monday) after the second suspect has appeared in court.
“The media will then also receive an update on any progress made.”