Former SA Schools captain and Jeppe High School head boy Muzi Manyike has been confirmed dead this week after going missing last November.

Towards the end of last year it came to light that the talented youngster and former junior Lions player had been reported as missing.

It’s believed that on 10 November, the Randfontein SAPS officially opened a missing person’s docket, with his family becoming concerned over a lack of contact.

Just over a week later, on 18 November, CCTV footage reportedly showed Manyike leaving a car in Pretoria North before disappearing.

In early December Manyike’s father, Douglas, told SARugbymag.co.za that there was still ‘nothing at the moment’ when asked whether there had been any developments in the case.

The desperate search continued for weeks on end, but his family has now confirmed his passing after identifying his remains at the Garankuwa mortuary on Monday.

The circumstances around the case are still unknown.

‘We’re busy picking up the pieces, hopefully we will have something tangible by the end of business today,’ Douglas told this website on Tuesday.

According to mortuary records, Manyike’s body was found near the R101 Hammanskraal north of Pretoria.

The cause of death remains unknown at this point.

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images