A 21-year-old woman, Ayabonga Mjilo, has been found murdered and buried in a shallow grave in eNanda, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Mjilo was reported missing on Monday, 23 December 2024, after being last seen leaving a restaurant in Umhlanga on Christmas Day.

KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netshiunda, confirmed that a 37-year-old man has been arrested in connection with her kidnapping and murder.

According to Netshiunda, Mjilo was seen leaving the restaurant in the early hours of December 25 with a male companion. When she failed to return home, a case of kidnapping was opened.

“Through thorough investigations, police identified the man seen with Mjilo at the restaurant. It was revealed that he was her manager and had taken her to his home in Amaotana, eNanda,” said Netshiunda.

It is believed that an argument occurred between the two, during which the man allegedly strangled Mjilo to death before burying her body in his yard.

The suspect was arrested on the morning of Saturday, 4 January 2025. He is expected to appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on charges of kidnapping, murder, and defeating the ends of justice.