Desiree Mnisi (33), the South African Infantry Battalion soldier who disappeared after having been dropped off at a well-known hitchhiking pick-up point in Johannesburg on September 21, has been found dead.

A family member confirmed early this morning that Mnisi’s body had been found, but did not want to elaborate on the circumstances or his cause of death.

Mnisi disappeared after his cousin dropped him at a hitchhiking spot to catch a lift back to Middelburg.

His cellphone was still active around 14:00 on September 21, when cell towers pinned his location to near the pick-up point.

Shortly after 14:00, the signal was lost, and phone calls and messages remained unanswered.

The crying family member told Middelburg Observer that the family will not be making any more statements, and is appealing for privacy.