Thulisa Tete, the estranged wife of slain boxer Zolani Tete, has broken her silence over the shooting that left her injured outside a Mdantsane tavern last year, saying she is still waiting for answers about the investigation.
Thulisa and her then-lover, Uzuzole Goqwana, were shot shortly after arriving at Shampiz Tavern in Mdantsane in July 2025. Goqwana was left paralysed from the waist down, while Thulisa later recovered from her injuries.
Eastern Cape police have confirmed that the shooting remains under investigation and that no one has been arrested in connection with the case.
“Police can confirm that the case was opened at Vulindlela police station. No arrest has been made; however, the investigation is ongoing,” police spokesperson Captain Hazel Mqala said.
The shooting has gained renewed attention because Goqwana is now accused of being the mastermind behind the murder of Zolani Tete. The boxer was shot several times at his Mdantsane home on 21 August, while his girlfriend, Mbali Mngadi, was injured after being shot three times.
Goqwana is facing murder-related allegations in the Tete case, but he has denied responsibility and has made claims about Zolani during bail proceedings. Those claims form part of the court record but have not been proven.
Thulisa recently used a Facebook story to speak about the attack and the long wait for information. She said she had remained silent while trusting that the law would deal with what happened.
“I am still waiting for answers and feedback regarding the investigation into what happened on 13 July 2025,” she wrote.
Her comments suggest that the shooting has continued to affect her life long after the physical injuries began to heal. She said the attack changed her relationship with Goqwana and affected both their families.
“There was a time when getting into a car with someone I love came with a fear that I could never simply switch off, always wondering who was watching, who was following, and whether we would make it home safely. The shooting changed so much in our lives,” she wrote.
According to an affidavit submitted to the Mdantsane Magistrate’s Court on behalf of Goqwana’s bail application, Thulisa suffered “multiple gunshots” during the tavern attack.
The case was registered as two counts of attempted murder at Vulindlela police station. Police have not announced whether a firearm was recovered, whether suspects were identified or why the investigation has not yet resulted in an arrest.
Goqwana’s Version In Court
During bail proceedings, Goqwana repeatedly accused Zolani of being behind the attack on him and Thulisa. His version was that the boxer had engineered the shooting, but the State has disputed that claim.
Goqwana stated in his affidavit: “I must state that a mere two days before the attack on my person, I was driving a vehicle belonging to Mrs Tete, who I was in a relationship with.”
He said investigators failed to question Zolani about the shooting, despite his belief that Zolani was responsible.
“I became aware of the fact that the investigating officer of the case did not make any attempt to question the deceased, and I attribute that largely to the stature that the deceased commanded in our community, which might have made him be regarded as a saint.”
The claim has not been tested in a trial. Zolani was later killed at his home, and police have not confirmed that he was involved in the shooting of Goqwana and Thulisa.
State prosecutor Thango Pangalele disputed Goqwana’s version, accusing him of a “revenge” attack based on a “mistaken belief”. The State’s position was that Goqwana’s account should be treated with caution and did not establish that Zolani had arranged the earlier shooting.
Goqwana is now accused of being the alleged mastermind behind the boxer’s killing. The timing of the two incidents has therefore become an important part of the court narrative, although the relationship between the July shooting and the August murder remains a matter for investigation and trial evidence.
The accusations made during the bail hearing do not amount to findings of guilt. Goqwana remains legally presumed innocent unless a court finds him guilty, and the earlier shooting also remains unresolved because no arrests have been made.
A Relationship Marked By Fear
Zolani and Thulisa married in 2018 and separated a year later, although they were not divorced. The details of their relationship and the circumstances surrounding their separation have become relevant because Goqwana was romantically involved with Thulisa when the shooting took place.
Thulisa’s account focuses on the fear that followed the attack. She described a lasting sense of being watched and followed, particularly when travelling in a vehicle with someone she loved.
Her statement also shows how a violent attack can affect family relationships and daily routines. Even after surviving the shooting, she said the fear could not simply be switched off.
The police investigation will need to establish what happened outside Shampiz Tavern, who opened fire, what weapon was used and whether the attack was linked to a dispute involving any of the people later connected to the Tete murder case.
Investigators may also have to examine cellphone records, vehicle movements, eyewitness statements and any available security footage from the tavern or surrounding roads. The evidence would need to show who was responsible before charges could be brought.
Attempts to obtain further comment from Thulisa were unsuccessful. Her social-media posts are the clearest public indication so far of how the unresolved case has affected her and how frustrated she is by the absence of feedback.
Police Say Investigation Continues
Mqala confirmed that the investigation remained open, but did not provide details about progress or explain whether detectives had identified a possible suspect.
The lack of an arrest more than a year after the attack means that important questions remain unanswered. Thulisa and Goqwana were both victims of the tavern shooting, but Goqwana is now also accused in a separate murder case involving Zolani.
The police will have to investigate the two matters independently while also considering whether information from one case may assist the other. A connection cannot be assumed simply because the people involved knew one another or because the incidents happened within weeks of each other.
The earlier shooting may become relevant to the State’s case against Goqwana if investigators can establish a motive, sequence of events or relationship between the incidents. But any such link must be supported by evidence and tested in court.
The fact that Goqwana was left paralysed does not by itself prove who attacked him. Similarly, Thulisa’s survival and later comments cannot establish the identity of the shooter without supporting evidence.
The investigation may also have to take account of the trauma experienced by Thulisa. Her statement that she was still waiting for answers highlights the importance of keeping victims informed about the progress of a case.
Tete Murder Case Casts New Light On Attack
Zolani died after being shot several times at his Mdantsane home on 21 August. Mngadi was injured after sustaining three gunshot wounds during the attack.
Goqwana has been described by the State as the alleged mastermind behind the boxer’s killing. He is applying for bail and has denied the allegations against him.
The State has argued that Goqwana should remain in custody, while the defence has challenged the prosecution’s version. The murder case has included allegations about alleged hitmen and the introduction of ballistics evidence, but those issues remain subject to court proceedings.
The unresolved July shooting adds another layer to the case because Goqwana has claimed that Zolani was behind the attack that left him paralysed. Pangalele has rejected that version, describing it as a revenge attack based on a mistaken belief.
The court will ultimately have to consider the evidence presented by both sides. Statements made in affidavits are not automatically accepted as fact, and allegations remain allegations until proved.
For Thulisa, the focus is the attack that changed her life. She said she had trusted the law to provide answers, but police have now confirmed that the case remains open without an arrest.
The family of Zolani is also waiting for the murder case to run its course, while the State continues to build its case against Goqwana and his co-accused.
The two investigations may continue along separate paths, but they are connected by the people involved and by the violence that took place in Mdantsane during a short period.
Police will need to establish whether the July shooting can be solved independently, whether it was part of a wider conflict and whether any evidence links it to Zolani’s murder.
Until then, Thulisa’s call for answers remains unanswered. The case at Vulindlela police station is still open, no arrests have been made and the identity of the person who shot her and Goqwana has not been established in court.
