Former two-time boxing world champion Zolani “Last Born” Tete was shot and killed at his home in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape, at age 38.
Police confirmed that Tete and a female passenger were ambushed by masked gunmen while waiting for his residential gate to open, leaving the local and international sports community in profound shock.
The Tragic Ambush in Mdantsane
The fatal incident unfolded on Friday evening at approximately 6:30 PM outside Zolani Tete’s residence in the NU17 section of Mdantsane.
According to Eastern Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana, Tete was arriving at his home and waiting for the property gate to open when a vehicle pulled up alongside him.
Two unidentified suspects wearing balaclavas emerged from the vehicle and opened fire on Tete’s car.
In a desperate attempt to evade the heavy gunfire, Tete drove his vehicle forward into his yard.
However, he had already sustained critical injuries and was declared dead at the scene.
A 27-year-old female passenger traveling with him suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency medical care, where she remained hospitalized in stable condition as investigations continued.
Provincial police confirmed that a murder and attempted murder docket has been opened, though no arrests have been made and the motive behind the brazen attack remains entirely unknown.
A Celebrated Boxing Legacy
Affectionately known as “Last Born,” Tete was widely recognized as one of the most skillful and devastating punchers produced by South Africa.
Growing up in the rugged township of Mdantsane—a renowned South African boxing hotbed—he began his journey in the sport at just eight years old alongside his brother, guided by his pastor father and later mentored by local greats.
Tete carved out an exceptional professional career characterized by brilliant southpaw movement, supreme ring IQ, and concussive power in his fists.
He rose through the international ranks to claim major world honors, capturing the International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior bantamweight title and later the World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight championship, alongside holding the World Boxing Foundation (WBF) flyweight strap.
His career highlight on the global stage came in November 2017 at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland, when he obliterated compatriot Siboniso Gonya with a single right hook in just 11 seconds.
That astonishing performance set a historic Guinness World Record for the fastest knockout ever recorded in a world title fight, cementing Tete’s name in international boxing lore.
Controversy and Hopes of a ComebackTete’s career faced a major hurdle in July 2022 after a fourth-round knockout victory over Jason Cunningham in London.
Post-fight testing revealed the presence of the banned steroid stanozolol, prompting the UK Anti-Doping agency to hand him a mandatory four-year suspension from professional competition.
Despite the setback and recent licensing hurdles flagged by local authorities, Tete had maintained an intense training regime and remained deeply beloved in his home township.
He frequently dedicated his time outside of camp to mentoring and coaching aspiring youngsters at local community gyms in Mdantsane, hoping to pass down the knowledge that transformed him into a world-beater.
With his suspension nearing its end, close associates and his manager, Mlandeli Tengimfene, reported that Tete was intensely focused on orchestrating a major redemption arc and a triumphant return to the professional ring.
Outpouring of Grief and Police Appeal
News of Tete’s violent death sent immediate shockwaves across South Africa, with tributes flooding in from fellow fighters, promoters, and political figures mourning the loss of a sporting icon cut down in his prime.
The Eastern Cape boxing fraternity, already scarred by historical tragedies within the local fighting community, expressed profound devastation over the senseless loss of life.
Law enforcement authorities have appealed to anyone from the Mdantsane community who may have witnessed suspicious vehicles or individuals around the NU17 neighborhood on Friday evening to come forward with information.
As police forensic teams comb the scene for clues, friends, family, and thousands of fans are left grappling with the abrupt and tragic end of a champion who defined an era of South African boxing.
