Four individuals have been arrested in South Africa in connection with the murder of boxing champion Zolani Tete, who was shot and killed outside his residence on Friday. Tete, 38, was reportedly ambushed in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape. A young woman accompanying him was also shot and is currently hospitalized.
One of the arrested men, a 22-year-old, is scheduled to make an initial court appearance on Monday, facing charges of murder and attempted murder. The remaining suspects were apprehended on Sunday and are expected in court on Tuesday. Two of these individuals face charges related to the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, with it not yet clarified if they will also face murder and attempted murder charges.
According to officials, Tete was in his vehicle awaiting his home's gate to open when two assailants wearing balaclavas emerged from another vehicle and fired multiple shots at him and the 27-year-old female passenger.
Tributes have been shared for the two-time world champion. South Africa's Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie stated that the nation has lost one of its finest fighters. Former Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula also mourned the loss of "a great South African who has made an immense contribution in the sport of boxing."
Tete previously held the WBO bantamweight title from 2017 to 2019 and the IBF super-flyweight title in 2014. He also holds a Guinness World Record for the fastest knockout in a title fight, achieving it in 11 seconds in 2017. His last fight was in July 2022, where he defeated Jason Cunningham by knockout in London. However, the result was later overturned to a no-contest after Tete failed a drugs test for the anabolic steroid stanozolol, leading to a ban by the UK Anti-Doping Agency, which expired in July of this year. Tete's manager confirmed that he had been training for a comeback fight following the conclusion of his ban.
Tete's professional record included 29 wins in 34 fights, with four losses and one no-contest.