Tragedy when the death of the former captain of SA schools, Muzi Manyike, is confirmed

Muzi Manyike (Gallo Images)

• Muzi Manyike, the former SA Schools captain who went missing late last year, has been found dead.
• His family confirmed that they had positively identified his body in Ga-Rankuwa on Monday after a nearly three-month search.
• Police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.

The disappearance of Muzilikazi “Muzi” Manyike, a former SA Schools captain, has ended in tragedy.

A statement on Tuesday confirmed that the body of the 20-year-old had been positively identified by his family at the Ga-Rankuwa police station on Monday.

Sport24 He has also corroborated the death of Manyike through a relative and Kobus Porter, his agent.

According to the family, mortuary records show that the promising young man, who joined the seven national academy in January after the Lions granted him an early release, was found on R101 near Hammanskraal on November 20, two days after being last seen on CCTV footage in North Pretoria.

The Randfontein SAPS opened the file on a missing person on November 10.

“The cause of death is not yet clear,” the family statement read.

“The family is working with the South African Police Service to establish the circumstances surrounding his death. We would like to express our sincere appreciation to (South African) society (as a whole).”

Porter also mourned the loss of his young client’s life.

“It is something terrible what has happened. We are all devastated,” he said.

“We hope that answers will be found.”

The Lions also sent their condolences to the family in a statement.

“On my behalf, our president, Altmann Allers and everyone at Lions Rugby, I want to send our condolences to the Manyike family. We honestly cannot believe it and it is hard to find the words at this time,” said Rudolf Straeuli, CEO of the labor union.

Sport24 previously reported that mystery surrounded Manyike’s disappearance after “underlying problems” abruptly left him out of the Lions’ successful Under-21 campaign last year.

Manyike, principal of Jeppe Boys High, signed a contract with the Seven National Academy in September and was scheduled to report to service in early January, but told Marius Schoeman, SA Rugby’s high performance manager for rugby out of seven, they had “personal problems” to solve.

Manyike played age group rugby for the Lions at all levels and was in line to play for the Junior Springboks in the 2020 Covid-ravaged program.