Former world boxing champion Zolani Tete shot dead outside his Eastern Cape home

Take a look inside the record-breaking career of South African boxer Zolani Tete, who was shot dead outside of his home in Mdantsane.

Tete, who won world WBF flyweight and WBO bantamweight titles, was killed outside his home in Eastern Cape last week.

Tete, who won world WBF flyweight and WBO bantamweight titles, was killed outside his home in Eastern Cape last week.

Zolani Tete made history in 2017 when he took just 11 seconds to knock out his opponent with his first punch to retain his WBO bantamweight crown.

Former two-time world boxing champion Zolani Tete was shot dead in an ambush outside his home in Eastern Cape, sparking outrage over South Africa's violent crimes.

South Africa's former boxing champion Tete shot dead outside home

Tete held titles at junior bantamweight and bantamweight in his 34-fight pro career

Tete was training to return to the boxing ring after receiving a four-year ban for a steroid.

Eastern Cape police have arrested two men in connection with the murder of former two-weight world boxing champion Zolani Tete, who was shot dead outside his home in Mdantsane on Friday night

The boxing world is mourning the death of two-time world champion Zolani Tete

Former two-time world boxing champion Zolani “Last Born” Tete was shot and killed outside his home in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape, South Africa, on Friday evening. The 38-year-old boxer was reportedly ambushed by two armed men wearing balaclavas while he was waiting for the gate of his residence to open. A 27-year-old woman who was with him was also shot multiple times and remains in hospital.Zolani Tete is Trending in South Africa because the former two-division world boxing champion has been murdered. The 38-year-old sports icon, nicknamed "Last Born," was on his way home from the gym when two armed suspects approached his vehicle and opened fire on the night of… pic.twitter.com/aUFR9cmRZv— Why It Is Trending (@trendingblog247) August 22, 2026 Who Was Zolani Tete?Tete was one of South Africa’s most accomplished boxers and became a world champion in two weight divisions during his career. He captured the IBF junior-bantamweight world title in 2014 after defeating Japan’s Teiru Kinoshita on points. Three years later, he won the WBO bantamweight title and successfully defended it before his reign ended in 2019. He had been preparing to return to professional boxing and was reportedly scheduled to fight again on November 29.Hockey World Cup Jersey Row: India Lose To Light-Blue Teams After Controversial Saffron SwitchHow did Zolani Tete die?The circumstances surrounding Tete’s death remain under investigation, and police have not established a motive for the shooting. Authorities said the boxer was attacked as he arrived at his residence, while the suspects fled the scene after the shooting. No arrests had been reported as of Saturday, with police appealing for information from members of the public.

Tete was a two-weight world champion

Zolani Tete was arriving to his house in Mdantsane when two men in balaclavas got out of a car and shot himThe former boxing world champion Zolani “Last Born” Tete was shot dead outside his home in South Africa on Friday amid rampant violence in the country, which has one of the world’s highest murder rates.The 38-year-old athlete was arriving to his house in the Mdantsane township, Eastern Cape province, when two men in balaclavas got out of a car and shot him. He was declared dead at the scene. A 27-year-old woman with Tete was also shot multiple times and taken to hospital. Continue reading...

Former world champion boxer Zolani Tete has been shot and killed at his home in South Africa, government officials said.

Zolani Tete, who held WBF flyweight and WBO bantamweight world titles, killed at his home in Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Zolani Tete, who held WBF flyweight and WBO bantamweight world titles, killed at his home in Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Former world boxing champion Zolani "Last Born" Tete has been shot dead outside his home in South Africa's Eastern Cape province.

Former world champion boxer Zolani Tete has been shot dead outside his home in South Africa, government officials said.

Zolani Tete, a former WBO bantamweight and IBF super-flyweight world champion, has been shot dead outside his home in South Africa.

Former world champion boxer Zolani Tete shot dead in South Africa

Former world champion boxer Zolani Tete has been shot and killed at his home in South Africa, government officials said Friday. Gayton McKenzie, South Africa's sports, arts and culture minister, said the 38-year-old Tete was killed in his car and that a 27-year-old woman who was in the vehicle with him was shot multiple times and is in hospital. Tete held world title belts in the WBF flyweight category from 2007-2008 and the WBO bantamweight title in 2017 and 2019.

Former titlist Zolani Tete was reportedly ambushed by masked gunmen outside his home

Zolani Tete, a boxing world champion in multiple weight classes, was shot dead outside his home in his hometown, Mdantsane, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Tete was 38 years old.

Zolani Tete died after being ambushed outside of his home on Friday night (Getty) Zolani Tete, a two-time world boxing champion, was shot dead in front of his house in Mdantsane, South Africa, on Friday night. Eastern Cape police spokesperson, Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana, confirmed that the shooting happened at around 6:30pm. According to Gantana, the 38-year-old boxer arrived at his home and waiting for the gate to open when he and a 27-year-old female passenger were ambushed by two unknown armed suspects, who were wearing balaclavas. ‘In an attempt to escape the hail of bullets, the deceased drove his vehicle into the yard,’ Gantana said. ‘He unfortunately succumbed to his injuries and was declared deceased on the scene. ‘The female passenger sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. She remains hospitalised.’ Zolani Tete was a two-weight world champion (Getty) ‘At this stage, no arrests have been made. The suspects fled the scene and are yet to be apprehended.’ Tete is a former junior bantamweight IBF champion and WBO bantamweight champion. He also holds the record for the fastest knockout in a title fight in boxing, knocking out Siboniso Gonya in 11 seconds of the first round of their fight in 2017. Former boxing champion Zolani Tete was shot dead at his NU17, Mdantsane home on Friday evening.SAPS says two armed suspects opened fire on his vehicle, killing the 38-year-old and seriously injuring a 27-year-old woman travelling with him.The suspects remain at large pic.twitter.com/yDGTjrAo8O— Buffalo City Insider (@buffalo_insider) August 21, 2026 The 38-year-old, who last fought in 2022, was preparing to make a return to the ring after serving a four-year doping ban. ‘The last four years have been nothing but hell for me and my family,’ Tete told The Herald in July. ‘To be denied to do what I love on frivolous circumstances when I know I am innocent is heart-breaking. ‘But as I said, UKAD never brought me to boxing, and they will not take me out of it.’ For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

Former two-time boxing world champion Zolani Tete has been shot and killed outside his home in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape.

Two masked gunmen shot world boxing champion Zolani Tete dead outside his home in Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape on Friday night as he sat in his car waiting for the gate to open.