A group of young livestock herders has discovered a human skeleton in thick bushes near Fort England outside Grahamstown.
The personal belongings of a man who had been sought by police since 2013 for the murder of a woman, were found alongside the human remains.
Captain Mali Govender says forensics experts were still at the scene late on Wednesday.
The woman murdered in 2013 was local teacher and community leader Siphokazi Tom.
Govender says police had searched for 56-year-old taxi driver Mlimi Mboniswa in connection with the murder - but were never able to find him.