Mdantsane, South Africa – The former boxing world champion Zolani "Last Born" Tete was shot dead outside his home in South Africa on Friday amid rampant violence in the country, which has one of the world's highest murder rates.
The 38-year-old athlete was arriving at his house in the Mdantsane township, Eastern Cape province, when two men in balaclavas got out of a car and shot him. He was declared dead at the scene. A 27-year-old woman with Tete was also shot multiple times and taken to hospital.
Police said the motive remains unclear, but that they have started investigations, asking the public for assistance.
Key developments:
- Victim: Zolani "Last Born" Tete, former world boxing champion
- Age: 38 years old
- Location: Mdantsane township, Eastern Cape province, South Africa
- Attackers: Two men in balaclavas shot him as he arrived home
- Woman injured: A 27-year-old woman with Tete was shot multiple times
- Motive: Unclear; police investigation underway
- Crime context: South Africa averages 58 murders per day in 2026
- Boxing career: Two-time title winner (IBF junior-bantamweight 2014, bantamweight 2017)
- Guinness record: Fastest knockout in a title fight
- Minister's tribute: "South Africa has lost one of the finest fighters it has ever produced"
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An average of 58 people per day were murdered in South Africa in the first four months of 2026, according to government data. The UK recorded an average of 1.5 murders per day in 2025.
Outpouring of Tributes
The boxer's death led to an outpouring of grief and tributes. Tete fought in 34 matches over the course of his career. He was a two-time title winner, winning the IBF junior-bantamweight title in 2014, and the bantamweight title in 2017. He also held the Guinness world record for the fastest knockout in a title fight.
Gayton McKenzie, the minister of sports, arts and culture in South Africa, said: "South Africa has lost one of the finest fighters it has ever produced … There are no words I can offer tonight that will be equal to what [the family] has lost."
Tete was training to return to the ring, according to McKenzie, who said the boxer believed "he still had something to give his country."
The world boxing council published a tribute of Tete, offering their "deepest condolences" to his family and praising his "remarkable career."
South Africa's Violence Crisis
The murder of the former champion highlights the ongoing violence crisis in South Africa. Despite a recent decline in homicides, the country remains one of the most dangerous places in the world, with murder rates far exceeding those of other nations.
🥊 The Big Picture
Former world boxing champion Zolani Tete was shot and killed outside his home in South Africa's Eastern Cape province, the latest victim of the country's staggering violence. The 38-year-old, known as "Last Born," was a two-time world champion and held the Guinness world record for the fastest knockout in a title fight. His murder, which also left a 27-year-old woman injured, highlights South Africa's ongoing struggle with violent crime, where an average of 58 people are murdered each day. Tributes have poured in from across the country, with the sports minister saying the nation has lost "one of the finest fighters it has ever produced."
What's Next
Key developments to watch:
- Police investigation: Search for suspects and motive
- Woman's condition: Updates on the injured 27-year-old
- Memorial: Tributes and funeral arrangements
- Crime debate: Renewed focus on South Africa's murder rates
- Boxing legacy: Tete's impact on the sport
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