Boitumelo Tshehle

The skeleton of a man reported missing last December was found by wood collectors at Lethabong village near Rustenburg in the North West on Sunday.

The remains of William Maniki Molelekeng, of Cascada section in Lethabong, were found by wood collectors near the River Matsukubjane.

Police spokesman Inspector George Lebogo said they were called to the scene by the wood collectors.

"We rushed to the river and found human bones lying near the river," he said.

While searching the area, police also found a wallet next to the bones. Papers found inside the wallet helped to identify the body as that of Molelekeng.

Lebogo said it looked like Molelekeng had hanged himself.