Police arrest 4 suspects over murder of boxing champion Zolani Tete

Nii Ayitey Brown 09:44 - 24 August 2026

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Zolani Tete

Four people have been arrested in connection with the killing of former two-time world boxing champion Zolani “Last Born” Tete in South Africa, with one of the suspects already facing murder and attempted murder charges.

According to BBC, a prime suspect, a 22-year-old man who was arrested on Saturday is due to appear before the Mdantsane Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Three other suspects were arrested on Sunday and are expected to appear in court on Tuesday. Reports indicate that two of them have been charged with unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.

Tete, 38, was shot dead outside his home in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape, on Friday evening. Reports say that he was sitting in his car waiting for the gate to open when two armed men wearing balaclavas emerged from another vehicle and opened fire.

A 27-year-old woman who was travelling with him was also shot several times and remains in hospital. Police have not yet disclosed a motive for the attack.

Tete won the IBF junior-bantamweight world title in 2014 before becoming WBO bantamweight champion in 2017. He became internationally known after stopping fellow South African Siboniso Gonya in just 11 seconds in Belfast in 2017, the fastest stoppage in a world title fight.

His final fight came in July 2022, when he stopped British boxer Jason Cunningham. The result was later changed to a no-contest after Tete tested positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol.

A UK Anti-Doping panel imposed a four-year ban, which expired in July 2026.

Tete had reportedly been training for a comeback after completing the ban.