Former two weight world boxing champion Zolani Tete was shot and killed outside his home on Friday evening, marking a tragic end to one of South Africa’s most celebrated sports careers.
The 38 year-old boxing icon, affectionately known to global fight fans as “Last Born,” was ambushed by four armed men at approximately 6:30 PM as he arrived at his residence in the NU17 area of Mdantsane, Eastern Cape.
His longtime manager, Mlandeli Tengimfene, confirmed that Tete was returning home from a training session when the suspects confronted him. The attackers opened fire, killing the veteran fighter instantly on the scene.
A female bystander was also caught in the gunfire and sustained injuries during the assault. Emergency services rushed her to a local hospital, where she is currently receiving treatment.
The timing of the tragedy has added an extra layer of heartbreak for the boxing community. Tete was killed just weeks after the expiration of a four year doping ban on July 29, 2026.
The suspension had been handed down by UK Anti-Doping in 2022 after he tested positive for the prohibited steroid stanozolol following a knockout victory over Jason Cunningham. Though Tete fiercely maintained his innocence, claiming the result came from a contaminated supplement, the ruling sidelined him during the twilight of his physical prime.
Rather than walking away from the sport, Tete stayed in peak condition and dedicated his time to coaching and mentoring young fighters in his home province. He was actively preparing for a major professional comeback bout that had been targeted for November 29, 2026. At the time of his death, his management team was finalized with Boxing South Africa to clear the administrative and medical hurdles required to restore his professional fighting license.
Tete leaves behind a monumental legacy in international boxing. He reached the pinnacle of the sport by securing world titles in two separate weight classes, holding the IBF junior-bantamweight crown and later the WBO bantamweight championship.
He also earned a permanent place in the record books by scoring the fastest knockout in world title fight history, stopping Siboniso Gonya in a mere 11 seconds during a 2017 title defense in Belfast. He concludes his storied career with a professional record of 29 victories, four defeats, and 22 knockouts.
Provincial Police Spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana confirmed that authorities have launched a formal murder investigation. At this hour, the motive behind the fatal shooting remains unclear, and no suspects have been taken into custody.
Local authorities have made an urgent appeal to members of the public to come forward with any information that could lead to the arrest of the perpetrators.