A 37-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the murder of a 21-year-old woman who was kidnapped on December 25.

According to police reports, the woman was last seen leaving a restaurant in uMhlanga with a man in the early hours of Christmas Day.

A case of kidnapping was opened after she did not return home.

KZN police spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netshiunda, confirmed police investigations uncovered the identity of the man who was seen leaving the establishment with the missing woman.

“During the investigations it was discovered that the man, who was her manager at work, took her to his home at Amaotana area in Inanda. The two reportedly had an altercation and the man allegedly strangled her to death and buried her body in his yard,” Netshiunda said.

The suspect, who was arrested on Saturday morning, is facing charges of kidnapping, murder and defeating the ends of justice.

He is expected to appear at the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Monday.