Former world boxing champion Zolani Tete killed in South Africa

Former world boxing champion Zolani Tete, 38, was shot dead on Friday, August 21, 2026, outside his home in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape, South Africa. As Tete arrived at his residence, two masked gunmen emerged from a vehicle and opened fire, fatally wounding the athlete. A 27-year-old woman who was accompanying Tete in the vehicle was also shot multiple times and subsequently transported to a local hospital for treatment.

South African Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie has issued a statement declining to speculate on the motive or the identities of the perpetrators while police continue their investigation. Tete was a prominent figure in the sport, having secured the IBF junior bantamweight title in 2014 and later winning the WBO bantamweight title. The incident has drawn attention to the ongoing issue of high crime rates in South Africa, as authorities work to identify those responsible for the attack in a region known for its strong boxing heritage.