Boxing icon Zolani Tete was fatally shot during an apparent ambush outside his Mdantsane residence on Friday evening. The 38-year-old champion was targeted while waiting for his gate to open, leaving a 27-year-old passenger hospitalized with multiple wounds.
The 6:30pm ambush in Mdantsane
Two masked assailants opened fire on Zolani Tete in the Eastern Cape on Friday night.. as reported by the source, the attackers emerged from a vehicle while the boxer was waiting for his gate to open at his Mdantsane home. Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie confirmed the incident, noting that the suspects, described as two armed men in balacllavas, remain at large.
A 27-year-old woman traveling with Tete survived the attack but remains in critical condition. According to the report, she sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was rushed to a nearby medical facility for treatment.
An 11-second legacy and the WBO bantamweight crown
Zolani Tete's career was defined by historic speed and dominance in the lower weight classes. He famously holds a Guinness World Record for the fastest knockout in a title fight, having defeated Siboniso Gonya in just 11 seconds in 2017.
The boxer's achievements extended across multiple divisions, including:
- Winning the IBF junior-bantamweight title in Japan in 2014.
- Claiming the WBO bantamweight crown.
- Representing the famed All Winners Mdantsane boxing stable.
Tete was regarded as one of the finest fighters South Africa has ever produced,an icon who inspired a generation of local athletes.
A comeback interrupted by a UK Anti-Doping ban
The tragedy occurs just as Tete was preparing for a professional return to the ring after a period of absence. Following a four-year ban from the UK Anti-Doping Agency for testing positive for stanozolol, his manager, Mlandeli Tengimfene, noted that the boxer had been training for a comeback scheduled for November 29.
This comeback attempt followed a controversial 2022 bout in London against Jason Cunningham. While Tete secured his 30th professional win via knockout, the result was later overturned to a no-contest due to the failed drug test. tete had consistently maintained his innocence, telling The Ring earlier this year that he was a "clean and fair athlete."
Who targeted the All-Winners Mdantsane star?
The South African Police Service has yet to identify the two armed suspects who fled the scene in Mdantsane. While Minister Gayton McKenzie has appealed to the community for information, several critical details remain unverified:
- The specific motive behind the targeted ambush at Tete's residence.
- The identity of the vehicle used by the two men in balaclavas.
- Whether the attack was a premeditated hit or a random act of violence.
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