Four Suspects Arrested After Killing of Boxing Champion Zolani Tete

Four people have been arrested in South Africa in connection with the killing of former boxing world champion Zolani Tete, the BBC reported. Tete, 38, was shot outside his home in Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape on Friday. A 27-year-old woman who was with him was also shot and remained in hospital.

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A 22-year-old man arrested on Saturday was due to make an initial court appearance on Monday. According to the BBC, he faces charges of murder and attempted murder. Three further suspects were arrested on Sunday and were expected to appear in court on Tuesday.

Two of those detained on Sunday have been charged with unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. The BBC said it was not clear whether they would also face murder and attempted murder charges. Authorities had not established the guilt of any suspect in the reporting available on Monday.

Officials said Tete was sitting in his car and waiting for the gate at his home to open when two armed people wearing balaclavas emerged from another vehicle. The attackers fired multiple shots at Tete and his passenger in an incident described as an ambush. No motive was confirmed in the BBC's account.

Tete was a two-weight world champion, holding the IBF super-flyweight title in 2014 and the WBO bantamweight belt from 2017 to 2019. He fought eight times in the United Kingdom and defeated Paul Butler in Liverpool in 2015. In 2017, he stopped Siboniso Gonya inside 11 seconds, a performance recognised by Guinness World Records as the fastest knockout in a title fight.

His last bout came against Jason Cunningham in London in July 2022. Tete initially won by knockout, but the result was later changed to a no-contest after he tested positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol. The UK Anti-Doping Agency imposed a four-year ban that expired in July 2026. His manager, Mla Tengimfene, said after Tete's death that the boxer had been training for a comeback. Tete's professional record stood at 29 wins, four defeats and one no-contest.