South African police have arrested four suspects in connection with the fatal shooting of former two-time boxing world champion Zolani Tete, who died after being attacked in the Eastern Cape.
The suspects, aged between 22 and 28, were taken into custody over the weekend, according to a police statement issued on Monday. One of the four suspects has since been formally charged with murder.
Tete, 38, was attacked on Friday evening as he was returning to his home in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape Province. Police said the former champion was shot during the incident.
A 27-year-old woman who was travelling with Tete in the vehicle survived the attack but was taken to hospital for treatment. Her current condition was not disclosed by police.
Authorities have continued their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting, with the four suspects expected to face further legal proceedings as the case progresses.
Tete was one of South Africa’s most successful boxers, having won the IBF junior bantamweight world title in 2014 and the WBO bantamweight world title in 2017.
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He gained international recognition in 2017 when he recorded one of the fastest knockouts in boxing history. Tete stopped his opponent with his first punch after just 11 seconds while successfully defending his WBO bantamweight title.
The victory earned him a place in boxing history for recording the fastest knockout in a world championship bout.
Despite his achievements in the ring, Tete’s professional career later faced a setback. In 2023, the United Kingdom Anti-Doping agency imposed a four-year ban on the boxer. The ban ended on July 29, and Tete had been preparing for a return to professional boxing.
His planned comeback was cut short by the fatal shooting, prompting an outpouring of tributes from South African sports officials and fans.
South African Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie described Tete as one of the finest fighters the country had produced and expressed sadness over his death. “South Africa has lost one of the finest fighters it has ever produced,” McKenzie said in a statement.
The minister said Tete had been training for his return to the ring and remained determined to contribute to South African boxing.
“He was training for a return to the ring. He believed he still had something to give this country. He was right, but he will not get the chance now,” McKenzie said.
The investigation into Tete’s death remains ongoing as police work to establish the motive for the attack and determine the roles of the suspects in the shooting.
Al Jazeera
