Zolani Tete, aged 38, a former South African two-division world boxing champion, was shot dead outside his home in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape province on August 21, 2026. He was waiting inside his car for the gate to open when two armed men wearing balaclavas exited a vehicle and opened fire, killing him instantly [1, 2, 3].
A 27-year-old woman travelling with Tete in the car was also shot multiple times and remains hospitalized in serious condition [1, 2, 3]. South African police have launched a murder investigation and established a special task force to track down those responsible [1, 2, 3].
Tete held the IBF super-flyweight and WBO bantamweight world titles during his career. He was best known for an 11-second knockout in a 2017 world title bout against Siboniso Gonya, setting a record for the fastest knockout in a world championship fight [1, 4, 3]. His professional record included 34 fights with 29 wins, 4 losses, and 1 no contest, with 22 wins by knockout [1, 2, 4].
After testing positive for a banned substance, Tete was suspended for four years starting in 2022. His suspension ended in late July 2026, and he was actively preparing for a comeback fight [1, 2, 4].
South African Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie expressed sorrow over Tete’s death, saying, "南非失去了一位國家史上最優秀的拳擊手。" He confirmed the shooting details but declined to speculate on the motive, stating, "我不會臆測是誰做的，也不會猜測原因。" [1, 3]
Mdantsane, known as a hub for top South African boxers, was shocked by the killing. Despite recent reductions, South Africa continues to face high rates of violent crime and maintains one of the highest murder rates globally [1, 3].
