Zolani Tete murder: four arrested after boxing champion shot dead in SA

Four individuals have been apprehended in South Africa following the fatal shooting of former world boxing champion Zolani Tete outside his home in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape, on Friday. The 38-year-old Tete, who held the WBO bantamweight title and the IBF super-flyweight title, was killed in an apparent ambush alongside a 27-year-old woman who remains hospitalized.

Tete, a two-time world champion and one of South Africa’s most successful boxers, had a notable career that included eight fights in the United Kingdom, winning eight out of eight bouts. His death has prompted an investigation into the motive behind the ambush, with police describing the incident as such. The suspects were reportedly in vehicles with balaclavas when they fired multiple shots at Tete and the woman.

Tete succumbed to his injuries at the scene, while the woman was rushed to a hospital. A 22-year-old man was arrested on Saturday and is set to appear in court on Monday, facing murder and attempted murder charges. Three additional suspects were apprehended on Sunday and are due in court on Tuesday. Two of these suspects have been charged with unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, though it remains unclear if they will also face murder and attempted murder charges.

The investigation into Tete’s murder is still in its early stages, with authorities yet to reveal whether the suspects knew him or if the attack was tied to his boxing career or his prior anti-doping case.