KARIEGA – The ongoing investigation by the Nelson Mandela Bay District Detective Intervention Task Team into a series of murders and disappearances in Kariega has resulted in the arrest of a second suspect.

According to SAPS spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg, a female suspect was arrested on Wednesday, 1 July, and is expected to appear in the Kariega Magistrate’s Court today, 3 July, on charges linked to multiple murders committed in and around Kariega.

#sapsEC #Missing Loay Khayat (39) was last seen when he left a guest house in Philpott Street, College Hill, Kariega on 13 August 2025. He was driving his white Big Boy motorbike and wearing a black jacket, grey sweatpants and a white helmet.

Any person with information can… pic.twitter.com/H0zhncX5qW

— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) August 22, 2025

“The suspect is linked to the disappearance and alleged murder of Loay Khayat, who was reported missing in Kariega during August 2025,” she said. “She is further linked to the double murder of Earl Classen and Clarissa Swart in Kariega during September 2021, as well as the double murder of Isaac Moses and Merlyn Elkenstead in Kamesh during April 2022.”

Janse van Rensburg added that the investigation also forms part of the broader probe into the disappearance of Quinton Plaatjies, also known as ‘Doenas’, who was reported missing at Bethelsdorp SAPS in 2020.

UD Express previously reported that Donovan Williams, also known as ‘Poenie’, was arrested in June 2026 after allegedly evading police since October 2025. At the time, SAPS said he was wanted in connection with the kidnapping of a foreign national and was also linked to investigations into murder, kidnapping, fraud and the disappearances of Khayat and Plaatjies.

“During her court appearance today, 3 July, the matter will be remanded to 17 July, when she is expected to appear alongside her co-accused, Donovan Williams,” Janse van Rensburg concluded.

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