Zolani Tete Shot Dead Outside His Home: Two-Time World Champion Killed in South Africa
Former two-time world champion boxer Zolani “Last Born” Tete has been shot dead outside his home in South Africa, sending shockwaves through the country’s boxing community and leaving fans mourning one of the sport’s most accomplished fighters.
Tete, 38, was killed Friday when he arrived at his residence in Mdantsane township in the Eastern Cape province. According to police, two armed men wearing balaclavas emerged from a vehicle and opened fire while the boxer was waiting for the gate to his home to open.
A 27-year-old woman who was traveling with Tete was also shot multiple times during the attack. She was taken to hospital for medical treatment, while Tete was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police have opened an investigation into the killing, but the motive remains unknown. Authorities have not publicly identified any suspects, and South African Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie has urged people not to speculate about who may have been responsible or why the boxer was targeted.
The sudden death of Tete has shocked the Mdantsane community, an area known for producing several successful South African boxers. The Eastern Cape township had strong ties to Tete’s career and development as a fighter.
McKenzie paid tribute to the boxer, describing him as one of the finest fighters South Africa had produced. The minister also indicated that Tete had been preparing to return to the ring and believed he still had more to contribute to his country.
The Zolani Tete shot dead tragedy comes just weeks after the boxer became eligible to resume his professional career following a four-year suspension.
Tete’s last professional fight came against Britain’s Jason Cunningham in July 2022. Although he initially won the contest, the result was later changed to a no contest after Tete tested positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol. He subsequently received a four-year ban, which expired on July 29, 2026.
Before that setback, Tete had built an impressive career across multiple weight divisions.
He first captured a world championship at junior bantamweight in 2014 when he defeated Japan’s Teiru Kinoshita in Kobe to win the IBF title. Three years later, he captured the WBO bantamweight championship and established himself as one of the leading fighters in the lighter weight divisions.
Tete’s most famous victory came in November 2017 in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Facing fellow South African Siboniso Gonya, Tete produced one of the most extraordinary knockouts in boxing history. He stopped Gonya after only 11 seconds, setting a record for the fastest knockout in a world title fight. The remarkable finish became one of the defining moments of his career and brought him international recognition.
Tete also became familiar to British boxing fans during his career. In 2015, he defeated Liverpool’s Paul Butler at the Echo Arena in Liverpool. He later returned to the venue to fight Victor Ruiz, further establishing his international profile.
His professional record stood at 29 victories, including 22 by knockout, against four defeats and one no contest.
Despite the controversy surrounding his final professional appearance, Tete remained an important figure in South African boxing and was reportedly looking toward a comeback following the conclusion of his suspension.
That planned return has now been tragically cut short.
The circumstances of his killing have raised renewed concerns about violent crime in South Africa. The country continues to record one of the world’s highest murder rates despite recent declines in homicides. Tete’s death has particularly affected the boxing community because of his status as a national sporting figure.
Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane also expressed shock following the killing. A spokesperson for the premier said it was heartbreaking that a life that had brought pride to the province had been ended through violence and called on law enforcement agencies to thoroughly investigate the case and bring those responsible to justice.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have yet to establish why Tete was targeted or whether the attack was connected to his boxing career, personal affairs or another motive.
The fact that the attack happened directly outside his home has added to the shock surrounding his death. Police are expected to examine evidence from the scene and seek information that could help identify the attackers.
For South African boxing, Tete’s death represents the loss of a fighter who achieved championship success in two weight divisions and created one of the sport’s most memorable knockout records.
For fans around the world, he will be remembered as “Last Born,” the powerful southpaw who became a world champion, defeated some of the sport’s best fighters and produced an astonishing 11-second finish on the international stage.
Tete was only 38 and was preparing for another chapter in his boxing career after his suspension ended. Instead, his life was brought to a tragic end outside the home where he should have been safe.
As police continue searching for answers, tributes are expected to grow for a boxer whose career made him a respected figure in South African sport.
The Zolani Tete shot dead case remains under investigation, with the motive still unclear and his family, friends, fellow fighters and fans left to mourn his sudden death.
His legacy inside the boxing ring, however, remains secure: a two-time world champion, a 29-fight winner and the man responsible for one of the fastest knockouts ever recorded in a world title bout.
:::
About the Author
