The body of a 40-year-old Port Elizabeth woman who went missing in January has been found buried in her neighbour's backyard, Eastern Cape police said on Tuesday.

"The woman, who was from Zwide Township, went missing on 7 January," Inspector Dumile Gwavu said. "She was reported missing by relatives."

Police were contacted after community members became suspicious of a 38-year-old man.

"Police went to search the man's house... they saw a 'bump' which was the grave she was buried in," he said.

The grave was opened up, the body exhumed, and the man arrested.

The cause of death had yet to be determined.

"I cannot say what condition we found her body [to be] in either. A post-mortem is being conducted and investigations are taking place," Gwavu said.

The man will appear in the Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

Sapa