Former boxing world champion Zolani Tete has been shot dead in his native South Africa. © APA/afp / JIJI PRESS

Murder in broad daylight: Boxing world champion shot dead

Former boxing world champion Zolani Tete has been shot dead in his native South Africa, a government official and police confirmed.

August 24, 2026

From: apa

Tete, 38, was killed in his car in front of his home, according to Gayton McKenzie, South Africa's Minister for Sport, Arts and Culture. A 27-year-old woman who was with him in the vehicle was shot multiple times and is in hospital.

The incident occurred last week. According to media reports, four people have been arrested. Police stated that the incident took place in Mdantsane. Tete had just arrived at his residence and was waiting in his car for the gate to open when he and his companion were attacked by two armed and masked assailants.

Tete was once the IBF super flyweight world champion (2014/15) and WBO bantamweight champion (2017-19). His knockout victory against Siboniso Gonya in 2017 took him just eleven seconds and earned him a place in the Guinness Book of Records. In 2022, Tete tested positive for doping and was suspended for four years.