A 36-year-old man is appearing in court on Monday for the murder of a 4-year-old boy in the Northern Cape.

The deceased was found covered in a box in the suspect’s home in Ikhutseng.

Provincial police spokesperson, Mohale Ramatseba, says the boy was reported missing on Friday.

He had gone to a local tuck-shop at the time of his disappearance.

Ramatseba says information from the community led the search party to the suspect’s home.

“A 36-year-old suspect was arrested and a motive has not yet been established. The suspect is not related to the deceased.”

The acting Northern Cape police commissioner has condemned the incident.