Zolani Tete killed outside his South African home

South African boxing has lost former two-weight world champion Zolani Tete after the 38-year-old was shot dead outside his home in the Eastern Cape on Friday, 21 August. Tete was one of the country’s most successful fighters of his generation, having held world titles in two divisions.

The boxer had just arrived at his residence when two armed men wearing masks attacked him. They opened fire and fled the scene. A 27-year-old woman who was with Tete was also injured in the shooting and taken to a nearby hospital for medical care.

Police have begun investigating the killing. The identities of the attackers remain unknown, and no motive has yet been established. The circumstances surrounding the attack are also still being examined.

Tete won the IBF super-flyweight world championship in 2014 before claiming the WBO bantamweight title three years later. He ended his professional record with 29 wins, 22 of them by stoppage, and four losses. His 2017 victory over fellow South African Siboniso Gonya remains a notable moment in boxing history: Tete secured the world-title bout with a knockout after only five seconds.