THE principal of a historic Eastern Cape school, Clarkebury Senior Secondary in Ngcobo, is calling for help after one of his teachers disappeared without a trace.
Principal Ayanda Matshayana said 23-year-old Siviwe Mpondo from Scenery Park in East London had joined his school as a mathematics and physical science teacher just days before he went missing in March.
His belongings, which included a laptop, cellphone and clothes, were found in his room on the school premises. “Everything he owned was left behind at his place,” said Matshayana. The principal said pupils and teachers were puzzled by Mpondo’s disappearance.
“He had only three days in school and our worry is that he didn’t really know the area that well. In the short period he was with us, everyone loved him, from his colleagues to his class kids,” said Matshayana.
Mpondo graduated with a BSc degree from Rhodes University. He joined Clarkebury on March 25 and had worked for only three days.
Matshayana said Mpondo was the kind of teacher any school would want on their books. “He was special. He was a teacher who loved his work ... he apparently negotiated with another teacher to swap classes so that he could teach Grade 11 and matric. He was so passionate.”
The matter was reported to the police, but community members, teachers and pupils have been searching for Mpondo ever since he went missing.
Last month, together with the Mthatha dog unit, they searched for him in a nearby forest but with no luck. Mthatha police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela confirmed that a missing person case was being investigated.
Mpondo was a breadwinner at home. It is believed that when he left home for his new job, he told his friends that he was going to build a home for his parents.
Teacher disappears from Ngcobo school
Principal Ayanda Matshayana said 23-year-old Siviwe Mpondo from Scenery Park in East London had joined his school as a mathematics and physical science teacher just days before he went missing in March.
His belongings, which included a laptop, cellphone and clothes, were found in his room on the school premises. “Everything he owned was left behind at his place,” said Matshayana. The principal said pupils and teachers were puzzled by Mpondo’s disappearance.
“He had only three days in school and our worry is that he didn’t really know the area that well. In the short period he was with us, everyone loved him, from his colleagues to his class kids,” said Matshayana.
Mpondo graduated with a BSc degree from Rhodes University. He joined Clarkebury on March 25 and had worked for only three days.
Matshayana said Mpondo was the kind of teacher any school would want on their books. “He was special. He was a teacher who loved his work ... he apparently negotiated with another teacher to swap classes so that he could teach Grade 11 and matric. He was so passionate.”
The matter was reported to the police, but community members, teachers and pupils have been searching for Mpondo ever since he went missing.
Last month, together with the Mthatha dog unit, they searched for him in a nearby forest but with no luck. Mthatha police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela confirmed that a missing person case was being investigated.
Mpondo was a breadwinner at home. It is believed that when he left home for his new job, he told his friends that he was going to build a home for his parents.
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