Former two-division world champion Zolani Tete has been shot dead outside his home in Mdantsane, South Africa, aged 38. The former bantamweight titleholder was ambushed by gunmen on Friday evening while waiting for his gate to open.
Eastern Cape police confirmed that Tete and a 27-year-old female passenger were waiting in his vehicle at approximately 6:30 p.m. when two masked gunmen stepped out of another car and opened fire. Tete attempted to drive into his yard to escape the shooting but died from his wounds at the scene. The female passenger sustained multiple gunshot wounds and remains under medical care in a nearby hospital. Police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana said: “In an attempt to escape the hail of bullets, the deceased drove his vehicle into the yard. He unfortunately succumbed to his injuries and was declared deceased on the scene,”
No arrests have been made, and police have opened murder and attempted murder investigations. South African Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie described Tete as one of the country’s finest fighters and urged witnesses to come forward.
Tete achieved major international success across two weight divisions. He won the IBF junior bantamweight title in Japan in 2014 by defeating Teiru Kinoshita before capturing the WBO bantamweight belt. In November 2017, Tete scored the fastest knockout in world title history, stopping Siboniso Gonya in 11 seconds.
His career was later halted by a doping violation following a bout against Jason Cunningham in London in July 2022. The initial fourth-round knockout victory was changed to a no contest after Tete tested positive for stanozolol, resulting in a four-year suspension from UK Anti-Doping. That ban expired on July 29. Manager Mlandeli Tengimfene confirmed Tete had returned to training and was scheduled to fight again on November 29. Tete ended his professional career with 29 wins, four losses, and one no contest.
