Two-time boxing world champion shot dead aged 38 in fatal ambush at his own home

Zolani Tete, a two-time boxing world champion, has been shot dead aged 38 in an ambush outside his home.

A 27-year-old woman, who had been accompanying him, remains hospitalised.

It is believed that two balaclava-clad suspects were waiting for the 38-year-old outside of his property. The two-time boxing world champion was declared dead at the scene.

Tete’s death was confirmed by Eastern Cape police.

Eastern Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana subsequently provided initial details of the shooting, which occurred at around 6:30pm local time.

"In an attempt to escape the hail of bullets, the deceased drove his vehicle into the yard. He unfortunately succumbed to his injuries and was declared deceased on the scene,” said Gantana.

"The female passenger sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.

"She remains hospitalised. At this stage, no arrests have been made...The suspects fled the scene and are yet to be apprehended. The scene is currently active. Our officers are attending to all necessary protocols,” he concluded.

Zolani Tete dies in fatal shooting, 27-year-old woman hospitalised

Tete will be remembered partly as a two-time boxing world champion, having won the WBF Flyweight and WBO Bantamweight titles.

He also holds the Guinness World Record for the quickest world title defence in boxing history: 11 seconds, versus Siboniso Gonya in 2017.

Tete was banned from professional boxing in 2022, after testing positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol in July of that year. At the time of his death, he was preparing for a return to the ring.

The boxer, whose record stood at 29-4, last fought British sportsman Jason Cunningham at Wembley, in the same month that his steroid use was revealed.

He had originally won the fight by knockout, but the result was declared a no contest after the positive test was produced.

Tete did not accept the ban, telling Ring Magazine in January of this year that he was a “clean and fair athlete.”

The two-time boxing world champion said: “It's been a tough and long journey and I am happy it’s finally coming to an end. In all the investigations my team and I were going through, we still can't really tell what exactly happened from our side.”

Tete’s four-year suspension was lifted in July 2026. In the same interview, he announced his intentions to return to the ring, stating: “My plan is still unfinished.

“It's been a while since I stepped inside the ring, I am looking forward to my comeback fight and getting back to winning ways."

Officers have launched an investigation into Tete’s death. The shooting took place at around 6:30PM local time in South Africa.

No motive has been established for the assailants, and no suspects have been apprehended.

Boxing South Africa released a statement in the aftermath of Tete’s passing, describing him as “more than a champion… an icon of South African boxing.

“He etched his name in history as one of the country’s few two-weight world champions… We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and the entire boxing fraternity.

The sport has lost a true warrior and ambassador… we kindly request that the family’s privacy be respected during this period of mourning,” the statement concluded.