By our reporter 22.8.2026
South Africa sports community woke up to the sad demise of two-time world boxing champion Zolani Tete.
Tete, who won the IBF junior-bantamweight title in 2014 and the WBO bantamweight crown in 2017, was shot and killed by gunmen outside his home in the Eastern Cape on Friday, August 21.
According to reports by South Africa Broadcasting Corporation Tete was returning from an evening training and was sitting in his car for the gate to be opened when two masked gunmen allegedly jumped out of a nearby vehicle and opened fire. He died at the scene of the shooting, while a 27-year-old woman riding with him is in hospital fighting for her life.
Tete, who had suffered a setback in his career serving a four-year dope ban, was hoping to return to the ring this November after his ban expired in July.
News of his killing sent shockwaves through South African sport.
South Africa’s Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie described Tete as “one of the finest fighters South Africa has ever produced.”