Eastern Cape Premier, Phumulo Masaulle, has condemned the attack against slain Uitenhage teacher, Jade Panayiotou.
He was speaking at a march against Xenophobia at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth on Thursday.
The popular Riebeek College Girl’s High School teacher was allegedly abducted outside her home at Stellen Glen residential complex in Deacon Road, Kabega Park on Tuesday morning.
Her body was found on Wednesday morning in an isolated area near KwaNobuhle in Uitenhage.
The Premier said the killing of a teacher on her way to work is similar to those who act in the name of xenophobia.
"We learnt with dismay that a life of another teacher, going to school in the morning, to give lessons to children, gets killed on the way to work. Such criminality, it is similar to those who do criminal attacks in the name of Xenophobia, we must condemn all those acts."
Mausaulle said that people who resort to criminality - especially xenophobia must remain in jail.
"Our justice system must make it possible, that people like that must stay in jail for as long as possible because they are not representing what we are as a nation." said Masualle.
Meanwhile, the SA Students Congress says more than 10 000 people have signed the 'Against Xenophobia Pledge Campaign'
The march was attended by students, staff members, the Municipality, as well as political and religious organisations.
Also in attendance was Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, Executive Mayor Ben Filhla.
Speaking at the march this afternoon, NMMU vice-chancellor, Professor Derrick Swartz, said attacks based on a person's origin, creed, culture or colour is absolutely wrong.
"If our country cuts itself off from the world and if we attempt to construct a future based on only what we know mono-cultural systems and we don't embrace the diversity of all our people on the continent, this country will also die. An open society is one that embraces that which is different from itself and it lives of the fruits of that difference. That diversity is a source of strength not of weakness." said Swartz.
