Our stokvel chairperson disappeared with R47000

We had a stokvel with 12 women from our street. We have been running it for three years, never had a problem. This December it was supposed to pay out R47000 to the last three members including me. The chairperson stopped answering calls on the 15th of December. Her house is locked. Some of the ladies want to go to the police, others are saying we should handle it in the community. I have not told my husband yet because that money was supposed to be a surprise for our bond deposit. I am devastated.