GQEBERHA – More than a decade since the murder of Jayde Panayiotou, her family is expected to come face-to-face once again with one of the men convicted in connection with her murder at a parole hearing scheduled for 27 May.
Zolani Sibeko, who was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in 2015, is currently serving a 15-year prison sentence.
Family attorney, Tania Koen, confirmed to the PE Express that the hearing had been rescheduled and that Jayde’s family would attend.
“Yes, the family will attend the parole hearing, which has been rescheduled to May 27,” Koen said.
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While Koen did not comment on whether the family would oppose parole, a petition launched last year by Jayde’s sister, appeared to reflect the family’s stance on the early release of violent offenders.
The petition, titled Justice without Compromise: No Parole for Convicted Violent Offenders, calls for offenders convicted of crimes to serve their full court-imposed sentences without parole.
According to the petition, early release for violent offenders undermines public confidence in the justice system and fails to reflect the long-term impact such crimes have on victims and their families.
Sibeko became eligible for parole in 2025 after serving approximately eight years of his sentence.
Panayiotou was abducted outside her Kabega Park home in Gqeberha on 21 April 2015 while waiting for transport to work.
Her body was discovered later that day in KwaNobuhle near Kariega.
In August 2017, the Eastern Cape High Court in Gqeberha found her husband, Christopher Panayiotou, guilty of orchestrating her murder.
Co-accused, Sinethemba Nenembe, was convicted of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances, while Sibeko was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder.
During the trial, the State relied on cellphone records, location data and witness testimony linking the accused to the planning and execution of the crime.
The court found that the evidence supported the State’s case and rejected the explanations provided by the accused.
