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Police in South Africa have arrested four individuals in connection with the murder of former world boxing champion Zolani Tete. The victim, aged thirty-eight, was killed outside his home in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape province. The attack took place on Thursday evening as Tete awaited his property gate to open. Two armed men wearing balaclavas emerged from another vehicle and shot at his car.

A twenty-seven-year-old female passenger was also injured and remains in the hospital. Law enforcement quickly apprehended the four suspects ranging in age from twenty-two to twenty-eight. One of the suspects, a twenty-two-year-old man, appeared in court on Saturday and faces initial charges of murder and attempted murder. Three other suspects were arrested on Sunday, with two facing preliminary charges for illegally possessing firearms and ammunition.

Authorities are still reviewing evidence to decide if murder charges will be brought against all detained individuals. Zolani Tete had an illustrious athletic career, winning multiple world championships and setting a Guinness World Record for the fastest knockout in a championship bout. However, his career was derailed when a subsequent victory was invalidated due to a positive test for stanozolol, resulting in a four-year suspension.

Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie expressed deep sorrow over the loss, lamenting that Tete had been preparing for a return to the ring and believed he still had much to contribute to the country. Former Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula also mourned the loss, remembering Tete as a great national contributor to the sport. As the investigations continue and the judicial process unfolds, the tragic incident highlights the impact of violent crime on communities seeking to restore safety and honor their local heroes.