Former World Champion Boxer Zolani Tete Shot Dead in South Africa

Former world champion boxer Zolani Tete, one of South Africa’s most accomplished fighters, has been shot and killed in the eastern city of Mdantsane, authorities said Friday. He was 38.

South Africa’s Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie confirmed Tete’s death, saying the boxer was killed in his car. A 27-year-old woman who was with him in the vehicle was also shot multiple times and remains in hospital.

According to police, the attack took place as Tete was arriving at his residence in Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape. He was reportedly waiting for the gate to open when two armed men wearing balaclavas ambushed him.

The motive behind the shooting was not immediately known, and police were expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack.

Tete leaves behind a distinguished career that saw him win world titles in two different periods. He held the WBF flyweight world title from 2007 to 2008 before reaching another major milestone a decade later by capturing the WBO bantamweight championship in 2017.

His reign as WBO bantamweight champion cemented his status as one of South Africa’s notable boxing figures. His death at the age of 38 has now cast a shadow over the country’s boxing community.

The circumstances of the killing also raise questions about security and the motive behind the apparent targeted attack. With the investigation still at an early stage, authorities have yet to provide further details about the suspects or whether anyone has been arrested.

Tete’s death marks a tragic end to the career of a boxer who rose from South Africa’s Eastern Cape to the world championship stage and became a recognised name in international boxing.