Hundreds gather for murdered PE teacher's funeral

Port Elizabeth - Hundreds of friends, family and members of the public have gathered at the Mater Dei Catholic Church in Cape Road, Port Elizabeth where the funeral service of murdered teacher Jayde Panayiotou is underway.

Packed to capacity, additional chairs had to be placed outside the church to accommodate the overflow of mourners.

Jayde's husband, Christopher Panayiotou, led the pallbearers into the church as the funeral service got underway.

Pallbearers carry Jayde Panayiotou's coffin from the hearse. (Derrick Spies, News24)

Police have remained tight lipped around the probe since Panayiotou's body was found last week Wednesday, but said investigations are continuing around the clock.

Responding to speculation that suspects had been arrested, Eastern Cape police spokesperson, Brigadier Marinda Mills, said "persons of interest" have been questioned since the day of Panayiotou's abduction. 

"The investigation is continuing and no suspect has been arrested or positively linked to the crime at this point in time," she said.