'Somebody knows who did this': McKenzie mourns Zolani Tete death, calls for public assistance

Two men have been arrested in connection with the murder of former world boxing champion Zolani Tete, who was shot dead outside his home in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape, on Friday evening. According to Eastern Cape police, the suspects, aged 30 and 22, were detained in Ku Gompo on Saturday during an intelligence-led operation involving multiple law enforcement units. The arrests followed initial claims on social media that suspects had already been apprehended, which police dismissed as “false and unfounded.” Tete, 38, was killed as he sat in his car waiting for the gate to open at his residence. The shooting occurred around 6:30 p.m., according to police. Two armed individuals, wearing balaclavas, exited a vehicle and fired upon Tete and a 27-year-old woman traveling with him. In an attempt to evade the gunfire, Tete drove his car into the yard, where he was pronounced dead on the scene. The woman sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was hospitalized, though her condition remains critical. Eastern Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana confirmed that the identity of the deceased had been verified as Tete after notifying his next of kin. She stated that the suspects had not yet been formally charged and that the motive behind the attack remains under investigation. Gantana emphasized that the police were continuing their efforts to gather evidence and follow up on leads, with additional arrests anticipated. Earlier reports from police indicated that no arrests had been made at the time of the incident. Gantana reiterated that the suspects had fled the scene and were still at large. She warned against the spread of unverified information, stating that such actions could hinder the investigation and cause undue stress to the victim’s family. The police urged the public to contact Inyibiba SAPS or Crime Stop at 08600 10111 with any credible information related to the case, assuring confidentiality. Minister of Sports, Art and Culture Gayton McKenzie expressed deep sorrow over Tete’s death and called for public cooperation in identifying the perpetrators. He described the attack as a tragic loss for the nation and highlighted Tete’s legacy as a two-division world champion. McKenzie noted that Tete had recently announced plans to return to the ring, believing he still had much to contribute to South African boxing. His passing, he said, has robbed the country of a promising talent. Tete, born and raised in Mdantsane, began his boxing career at the age of eight and was trained by former world champion Vuyani Bungu. Over his professional career, he competed in 34 matches, securing victories in 29 of them, with 22 of those resulting in knockouts. His achievements include holding the International Boxing Federation junior bantamweight title from 2014 and the World Boxing Organisation bantamweight title from 2017 until 2019. Notably, Tete set a Guinness World Record for the fastest knockout in a world title fight, defeating Siboniso Gonya in just 11 seconds during a match in Belfast in 2017. Despite his success, Tete faced controversy in 2022 when he tested positive for the banned steroid stanozolol following a victory over Jason Cunningham at Wembley. The result was initially ruled a win, but it was later overturned to a no-contest, leading to a four-year suspension. Tete’s ban concluded on July 29, and he had publicly stated his intention to return to competition in the near future. As the investigation unfolds, authorities continue to seek public assistance in locating the suspects. The case remains active, with further developments expected in the coming days.