By Gabriel Manyati
South African boxing is in mourning tonight after two-time world champion Zolani Tete was shot dead outside his home in Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape on Friday evening. The 38-year-old, known throughout the sport as Last Born, was ambushed by two masked gunmen as he waited for his gate to open, just weeks after becoming eligible to resume his career following a lengthy suspension.
According to Eastern Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana, the attack occurred at approximately 6.30pm at NU17. Tete had arrived at his residence with a 27-year-old female passenger when two armed suspects wearing balaclavas emerged from a vehicle and opened fire. In a desperate bid to escape the hail of bullets, Tete drove his vehicle into the yard. He was declared dead at the scene. The woman sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was rushed to hospital, where she remains under treatment. No arrests have been made and the motive remains unknown. The suspects fled and are still at large.
The news has sent shockwaves through the boxing community both in South Africa and abroad. Tete was preparing for a return to the ring after his four-year ban for a doping violation expired on 29 July. He had spoken of his determination to become a three-weight world champion and was eyeing a bout scheduled for 29 November. That comeback will never take place.
Born on 8 March 1988 in the tough township of Mdantsane, Tete rose from humble beginnings to become one of South Africa’s most accomplished modern fighters. The youngest of his siblings, he earned the nickname Last Born early in life. His father, a pastor, and his mother raised a large family in a modest home. Township life was harsh, marked by poverty and the constant threat of violence. As a small boy Tete was frequently bullied because of his slight build. Together with his older brother Makazole, he took up boxing at the age of eight, sneaking to the gym after school with training kit hidden beneath school uniforms so their mother would not stop them.
The sport became both shield and pathway. Tete claimed more than 400 amateur contests with only three losses. He turned professional in May 2006 and quickly established himself as a devastating southpaw with exceptional knockout power. Standing 1,75m with a long reach, he won his first eight professional fights by stoppage. Early titles included the WBF flyweight championship.
His breakthrough on the world stage came on 18 July 2014 in Kobe, Japan, when he stopped Teiru Kinoshita to claim the vacant IBF junior bantamweight title. He made a successful defence against Paul Butler in Liverpool the following year, stopping the British contender in the eighth round. Moving up in weight, Tete captured the vacant WBO bantamweight title and then produced the performance that cemented his place in boxing history.
On 18 November 2017 at the SSE Arena in Belfast, he knocked out fellow South African Siboniso Gonya in just 11 seconds of the opening round. The finish remains the fastest knockout in a world title fight and is recognised by Guinness World Records. Tete defended the WBO belt twice more before losing it to John Riel Casimero by third round stoppage in Birmingham in November 2019.
His final competitive appearance came on 2 July 2022 at Wembley Arena against Jason Cunningham. Tete scored a fourth-round knockout, but the result was later changed to a no-contest after he tested positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol. A four-year ban followed. Throughout the suspension Tete maintained that he intended to return. In interviews he described the period as hell for himself and his family, yet he continued training and mentoring young boxers at his gym in Mdantsane. He often spoke of giving back to the community that produced legends such as Vuyani Bungu and Welcome Ncita, fighters he had looked up to as a boy.
Tete’s professional record stands at 29 wins, four losses and one no contest, with 22 victories inside the distance. Beyond the titles and the record, he was remembered for quiet generosity. After one successful defence he used his purse to buy his mother a prosthetic leg after diabetes had claimed her own. He remained rooted in Mdantsane even as his career took him to Japan, Britain and Russia.
Tributes began pouring in within hours of the confirmation of his death. Boxing South Africa described him as more than a champion and an icon of the national game. Broadcaster Robert Marawa and fellow fighters expressed their grief at the sudden loss of a man who had overcome so much only to be cut down as a new chapter appeared within reach.
Police continue to investigate the murder and attempted murder. At the time of writing the suspects remain free and the reason for the attack is unclear. For a community that has produced so many world champions, the killing of one of its brightest sons outside his own front gate is a bitter blow. Zolani Tete leaves behind a legacy of resilience, power and an indelible mark in the record books. South African boxing will not forget the Last Born.
