The father of the eight-year-old boy who went missing earlier this month was arrested in connection with the boy's disappearance, Western Cape police said on Monday.

"We can confirm that the body found in Phillipi yesterday [Sunday] was that of Moegamat Yunus Desai who went missing on 4 November. His father has since been arrested in connection with the boy's death," Inspector Etienne Konradie said.

The boy was last seen with his father on the day of his disappearance. His body was found in Broksands in Phillipi on Sunday around 3pm. Police believed strangulation was the cause of death, but were waiting for autopsy results to confirm this.

A case of murder has been opened. The man would appear in the Mitchells Plain Magistrate's Court on Monday.