Former world champion boxer Zolani Tete has been shot dead outside his home in South Africa.

The 38-year-old was killed while sitting in his car in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape, after being ambushed as he waited for the gate to his home to open.

A 27-year-old woman who was in the vehicle with Tete was also shot multiple times. She survived and was taken to hospital for treatment.

Police said two armed suspects wearing balaclavas carried out the attack.

An investigation into the killing has been launched and the motive for the shooting remains unclear.

Former world champion

Tete enjoyed a successful boxing career and held world titles at flyweight and bantamweight.

He held the WBF flyweight title between 2007 and 2008 and later became WBO bantamweight world champion, holding the title in 2017 and 2019.

British boxing fans will also remember Tete for defeating Liverpool fighter Paul Butler at the Echo Arena in 2015.

One of the defining moments of his career came in Belfast in November 2017, when he knocked out fellow South African Siboniso Gonya in just 11 seconds – the fastest stoppage in a world title fight.

Tete had previously received a four-year suspension after testing positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol following his 2022 fight against Jason Cunningham.

His suspension ended on 29 July, and the former champion had been planning a return to boxing.
Police enquiries into his killing are continuing.