Former world boxing champion Zolani Tete was shot dead outside his home in Mdantsane township, Eastern Cape, South Africa, on Friday, August 21, 2026. The 38-year-old fighter, known by his ring name “Last Born,” was waiting for his residential gate to open when two armed men wearing balaclavas emerged from a vehicle and opened fire. A 27-year-old woman who was sitting in the car with Tete was shot multiple times and remains hospitalized. Police have launched an investigation, though the motive for the remains unclear.
Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie expressed the nation’s grief in a public statement, saying “South Africa has lost one of the finest fighters it has ever produced.” He addressed Tete’s family directly, assuring them that their son’s name “will not be treated lightly by this country,” and pledged his department’s full support in the days ahead. Tete’s brother Siyabulela told reporters the family was “devastated and shocked” by the .
McKenzie urged community members to come forward with any information about the incident, emphasizing that the suspects remain at large. He stressed that speculation would be avoided while police conduct their investigation. The ing has sent shockwaves through South Africa’s sporting community and beyond.
Authorities continue to search for the two armed assailants responsible for the ambush. Police are appealing to witnesses in the Mdantsane area who may have information that could assist in apprehending those responsible for ing one of the country’s greatest boxing champions.
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