Former two-division world boxing champion Zolani “Last Born” Tete was shot dead outside his home in South Africa on Friday, August 21, 2026. Two armed men attacked the boxer while he reached his home in Mdantsane township in the Eastern Cape province.
Police revealed that two men opened fire on the 28-year-old boxer’s vehicle while he was waiting for the gate to open. Tete tried to escape the attack by driving his vehicle away; however, he suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
A woman, who was accompanying Tete in the car, also suffered several gunshot wounds. She was later transported to the hospital for medical care.
Police have opened a murder investigation as well as an attempted murder case. The motive behind the shooting remains unknown and authorities are appealing for information from the public.
Tete was one of South Africa’s most successful boxers. He won the IBF junior-bantamweight world title in 2014 before capturing the WBO bantamweight championship in 2017. He held the WBO title until 2019.
The boxer also made history in 2017 when he knocked out Siboniso Gonya in just 11 seconds, setting the Guinness World Record for the fastest knockout in a world title fight.
The incident comes just weeks after Tete’s doping suspension ended. He had reportedly been preparing for a comeback and believed he still had more to offer in the sport.
South Africa’s Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie paid tribute to the boxer, describing Tete as one of the country’s finest fighters.
“I will not speculate about who did this or why,” McKenzie said while calling for justice for the former champion.
2026-08-22 23:36:00
