Zolani Tete

Zolani “Last Born” Tete was one of South Africa’s most accomplished boxers, a two-weight world champion whose career included a record-breaking 11-second knockout. His extraordinary journey from Mdantsane to the world stage was cut short on 21 August 2026, when he was fatally shot outside his home.

Early life

Zolani Tete was born on 8 March 1988 in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape. He grew up in the township and was introduced to boxing at a young age.

Tete came from a family with a connection to boxing. He and his brother, Makazole, took up the sport when Zolani was about eight years old. As an amateur, he looked up to established South African champions such as Vuyani Bungu and Welcome Ncita.

The young Tete eventually developed into a talented southpaw and built a reputation for his technical ability and punching power.

He turned professional in 2006, beginning what would become an 18-year career.

The professional breakthrough

Tete steadily worked his way through the professional ranks before receiving his first major world-title opportunity.

In 2007, he won the World Boxing Foundation flyweight title, becoming a world champion early in his career. He would later compete across several weight divisions, including flyweight, super-flyweight, bantamweight and super-bantamweight.

His career reached another level in 2014, when he defeated Japan's Teiru Kinoshita to win the IBF junior-bantamweight world title.

Tete successfully defended the belt against Paul Butler in 2015 before eventually moving on from the division.

WBO bantamweight champion

Tete's greatest success came after moving up to bantamweight.

In April 2017, he defeated Arthur Villanueva on points to win the WBO interim bantamweight championship. He was subsequently elevated to full WBO world champion status.

It was in Belfast later that year that Tete produced the performance that would make him a permanent part of boxing history.

The legendary 11-second knockout

On 18 November 2017, Tete defended his WBO bantamweight title against fellow South African Siboniso Gonya.

The fight lasted just 11 seconds.

Tete connected with his opening punch, dropping Gonya and bringing the contest to an astonishingly early end. The knockout became the fastest victory in a world-title fight in boxing history, breaking the previous 17-second record.

The feat remains one of the most remarkable achievements by a South African boxer.

The victory also cemented Tete's nickname, “Last Born”, as his reputation continued to grow internationally.

Defending the world title

Tete remained one of the leading fighters in the bantamweight division.

In April 2018, he successfully defended his WBO title against former world champion Omar Andrés Narváez, winning by unanimous decision over 12 rounds in Belfast.

His reign eventually came to an end in 2019, when he lost to John Riel Casimero.

Despite the setback, Tete had already established himself as one of South Africa's leading fighters of his generation.

Final years in boxing

Tete continued boxing after losing his WBO crown and eventually moved into the super-bantamweight division.

His final professional appearance came against Britain's Jason Cunningham in July 2022. Tete initially won by fourth-round knockout.

However, the result was later changed to a no contest following an anti-doping violation involving stanozolol. Tete subsequently received a four-year suspension.

The suspension expired in July 2026, and Tete was reportedly preparing for a return to the ring.

His planned comeback would never materialise.

Tete's death

On the evening of Friday, 21 August 2026, Tete arrived at his home in NU 17, Mdantsane.

Police said he was sitting in his vehicle waiting for the gate to open when armed men wearing balaclavas emerged from another vehicle and opened fire.

Tete was shot multiple times and was declared dead at the scene.

A 27-year-old woman who was in the vehicle with him was also shot and seriously injured. She was transported to hospital for treatment.

Tete was 38 years old.

Initially, police said the motive for the shooting was unknown and opened cases of murder and attempted murder.

Four suspects arrested

The investigation moved quickly.

Police subsequently arrested four suspects, aged between 22 and 28, in connection with Tete's killing. The arrests were made in different parts of the Eastern Cape, including Mdantsane and surrounding areas.

One suspect was charged with murder and attempted murder, while the others faced proceedings related to the investigation.

The suspects have appeared in the Mdantsane Magistrate's Court, with the case continuing as authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the killing.

By 29 August, reporting had described the killing as a targeted hit, with further allegations emerging around the circumstances surrounding Tete's death. Those allegations remain part of an ongoing criminal investigation and should not be treated as established fact until tested in court.

A champion remembered

Tete's death sent shockwaves through South African boxing.

He was more than a former world champion. To Mdantsane and the Eastern Cape, he represented the possibility of rising from a township community and reaching the highest levels of international sport.

His career produced 29 professional victories, including 22 by knockout, against four defeats and one no contest.

He won world titles in two weight divisions and created one of boxing's most extraordinary records with his 11-second knockout of Siboniso Gonya.

His death was particularly tragic because it came shortly after the end of his suspension, when he was reportedly looking towards a return to professional boxing.

Tete's funeral and memorial events drew tributes from the boxing fraternity, government officials, fellow fighters and members of the Mdantsane community. South African boxing authorities and the Sports Ministry also paid tribute to his contribution to the sport.

Zolani Tete: Career at a glance

• Full name: Zolani Tete
• Nickname: “Last Born”
• Born: 8 March 1988
• Birthplace: Mdantsane, Eastern Cape
• Died: 21 August 2026
• Age at death: 38
• Nationality: South African
• Stance: Southpaw
• Professional debut: 2006
• Professional record: 29 wins, 4 losses, 1 no contest
• Knockout wins: 22
• World titles: WBF flyweight, IBF junior-bantamweight, WBO bantamweight
• Historic achievement: 11-second knockout of Siboniso Gonya
• Last professional fight: Jason Cunningham, July 2022
• Cause of death: Fatal shooting outside his home in Mdantsane
• Murder investigation: Four suspects arrested as of late August 2026

Zolani Tete's story ultimately became one of extraordinary sporting achievement and a devastating ending: from the boxing gyms of Mdantsane to two world titles and a place in boxing's record books, before his life was violently cut short at 38.