Eastern Cape police have confirmed the arrest of two more suspects in connection with the murder of former world champion boxer Zolani Tete, bringing the total number of suspects in custody to four.
Tete was fatally shot in NU 17, Mdantsane, on August 21.
Three arrests on Sunday
Eastern Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana said the first arrest was made on Saturday, August 22, at KuGompo City.
A further three suspects were arrested on Sunday, August 23 – one in Mdantsane and two in Scenery Park.
Gantana said the three suspects arrested on Sunday are aged 27, 27 and 28.
Police also corrected the age of one of the suspects arrested earlier on August 23.
“The correct age is 27 and not 22 as previously reported,” Gantana said.
Suspect to appear in court
The 22-year-old suspect arrested on August 22 has been formally charged with murder and attempted murder.
He is scheduled to appear in the Mdantsane Magistrate’s Court on August 24.
She said the other three suspects are expected to appear in court soon.
The attempted murder charge relates to a 27-year-old female passenger who was wounded in the attack and remains hospitalised.
Gantana said a 30-year-old man who was initially apprehended on August 22 has since been released and remains a potential witness.
More arrests expected
Gantana said more arrests are expected as the investigation continues and police follow up on leads.
“Due to the sensitive nature of the ongoing investigation, the SAPS is unable to disclose further details at this time,” she said.
She cautioned the public and media against speculation or the dissemination of unverified information, saying this could compromise the investigation and the integrity of court proceedings.
“The SAPS commends the investigating team for their diligence and swift action in ensuring the apprehension of the suspects,” Gantana said.
She said further updates would be provided as the investigation progresses.
Tete killed outside his home
Tete, 38, was fatally shot on Friday evening in NU 17, Mdantsane, as he sat in his car waiting for his gate to open.
Police said the shooting happened at about 6:30 p.m.
Two armed men wearing balaclavas reportedly got out of another vehicle and opened fire on Tete and the woman travelling with him.
“In an attempt to escape the hail of bullets, the deceased drove his vehicle into the yard. He unfortunately succumbed to his injuries and was declared deceased on the scene,” Gantana said.
The woman sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was taken to a nearby hospital, where she remains.
Police confirmed Tete’s identity on Saturday after notifying his next of kin.
Who was Zolani Tete?
Tete was one of South Africa’s most successful boxers, winning world titles in two weight divisions.
He also holds a Guinness World Record for the fastest knockout in a world title fight. On Nov. 18, 2017, he stopped Siboniso Gonya in 11 seconds at the SSE Arena in Belfast.
Tete won the International Boxing Federation junior bantamweight title in Kobe, Japan, in July 2014 after stopping Teiru Kinoshita.
He later won the World Boxing Organisation bantamweight title in 2017 and held it until losing to John Riel Casimero in Birmingham in November 2019.
Tete had 34 professional fights, winning 29, including 22 by knockout.
Tete’s boxing career
Tete grew up in Mdantsane and started boxing at the age of 8. He was trained by former world champion Vuyani Bungu.
He had not fought since July 2022, when he tested positive for the banned steroid stanozolol following his victory over Jason Cunningham at Wembley.
The result was overturned to a no contest and Tete was handed a four-year ban, which ended on July 29 this year.
Tete maintained that he had never knowingly taken the substance.
In an interview with boxing magazine The Ring in January, he said he planned to return to the ring this year.
