Two men have been arrested in connection with the death of former world boxing champion Zolani “Last Born” Tete in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, according to SABC News.
The suspects, aged 30 and 22, were apprehended on Saturday in KuGompo City following an intelligence-driven operation involving several law enforcement units, police spokesperson Nobuntu Gantana said.
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Gantana said police could not provide further details because of the sensitive nature of the investigation.
Tete, 38, was killed outside his home in Mdantsane township on Friday night. According to Reuters, the former champion was arriving at his residence when two armed men wearing balaclavas got out of a vehicle and opened fire.
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A 27-year-old woman who was travelling with Tete was also shot multiple times and taken to the hospital, Reuters reported. Police have not disclosed a possible motive for the attack.
South Africa’s Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie called for caution against speculation while the investigation continues.
“I will not speculate about who did this or why,” Mr McKenzie said in a statement, according to Reuters.
Tete’s death has sent shockwaves through South Africa’s boxing community, particularly in Mdantsane, an Eastern Cape township with a long history of producing prominent boxers.
His father, Zolile Tete, said the family was devastated by the loss and recalled his son’s plans for the future.
“He was a hard worker. That is why I’m so worried. He intended to do the things he said he would do here at home. Zolani … I’m old; they should’ve killed me instead, because I’m old and let Zolani stay, so he can bury me,” he said, according to SABC News.
Tete’s manager, Mlandeli Tengimfene, also described the killing as a devastating blow to the boxing community.
“Devastating news, tragic news to us, particularly myself and the boxing community. People around there, everybody was crying when it was confirmed that Zolani is no more. Family, we met as a family. It’s unbelievable. We never thought of it. We’ve been with Zolani from birth; for us to get to this kind of news, something that was unexpected, it’s devastating.”
Tete won the IBF junior-bantamweight world title in 2014 after defeating Japan’s Teiru Kinoshita in Kobe. He later captured the WBO bantamweight title.
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He became internationally renowned in November 2017 when he knocked out fellow South African Siboniso Gonya after just 11 seconds in Belfast, a performance that Reuters described as the fastest stoppage in a world title fight.
According to SABC News, Tete’s funeral service is scheduled for KuGompo City Hall next Saturday, while a memorial service is planned for Wednesday.
The investigation into his death remains ongoing.
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