Four people are now in custody in connection with the murder of former world boxing champion Zolani “Last Born” Tete in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape.
The latest development comes after police made three further arrests on Sunday, bringing the number of people apprehended during the investigation to five. One of those arrested earlier, a 30-year-old man, has since been released and is being treated as a potential witness.
Tete, 38, was shot dead outside his home in NU17, Mdantsane, on Friday evening.
He was reportedly sitting in his vehicle waiting for the gate to open when two armed men wearing balaclavas allegedly emerged from another vehicle and opened fire.
Tete drove into the yard while attempting to escape the gunfire but died at the scene.
A 27-year-old woman who was travelling with him was wounded and remains in hospital. Police have opened a murder case and an attempted-murder case linked to the attack.
Eastern Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana said the first arrest was made in KuGompo City on Saturday, August 22.
Three more people were arrested on Sunday, August 23 – one in Mdantsane and two in Scenery Park.
The three arrested on Sunday are aged 27, 27 and 28.
The earlier police update had described the formally charged suspect arrested on Saturday as 22 years old. Police have since corrected his age to 27.
That 27-year-old man has been formally charged with murder and attempted murder and is expected to appear in the Mdantsane Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
The attempted-murder charge relates to the female passenger who was injured during the shooting and remains hospitalised.
Four Suspects Remain In Custody
Police have confirmed that four people are currently in custody, but have not disclosed the names of the three newly arrested suspects or detailed what evidence led investigators to them.
The people arrested are being investigated in connection with Tete’s murder and the attempted murder of the woman who was travelling with him.
The three people arrested on Sunday are expected to appear in court soon, according to police.
The 27-year-old suspect arrested on Saturday is the first person in the latest group to face formal charges and is expected to appear in court on Monday.
A court appearance does not mean that the accused has been found guilty.
The State will still need to present evidence linking the accused to the alleged offences, and each accused remains entitled to legal representation and a fair trial.
Until a court reaches a final verdict, the people arrested should be described as suspects or accused people rather than perpetrators.
Police have also not announced whether the arrests were made together, whether the suspects know one another or whether they are alleged to have played the same role in the attack.
Those details may emerge during the first court appearances or as the investigation progresses.
One Arrested Man Released As Potential Witness
A 30-year-old man who was arrested in KuGompo City on Saturday has since been released.
Police are now treating him as a potential witness in the investigation rather than as one of the four people currently in custody.
The release means that five people have been arrested during the investigation so far, but four remain in custody.
Police have not disclosed what information the man may be able to provide or whether he was present before, during or after the shooting.
Being treated as a potential witness does not mean that investigators have publicly cleared every aspect of his involvement. It means police are currently seeking information from him as part of the case rather than holding him as one of the suspects in custody.
The distinction is important because early reports about arrests can easily create confusion about who has been charged and who remains under investigation.
Police have urged the public and media to rely on confirmed information and avoid circulating names or claims that have not been officially verified.
Police Withhold Motive Details
Gantana said the police could not provide further details because the investigation remained sensitive.
She said detectives were continuing to follow up on several leads and that more arrests were expected.
“More arrests are expected as the investigation unfolds, and police are continuing to follow up on leads,” Gantana said.
“Due to the sensitive nature of the ongoing investigation, the SAPS is unable to disclose further details at this time.”
The motive for Tete’s killing has not been confirmed.
Police have not said whether the shooting was linked to robbery, a personal dispute, an organised-crime investigation or any other possible explanation.
It would be premature to treat any social-media claims or community speculation as fact while investigators are still gathering evidence.
The circumstances surrounding the arrests have also not been made public.
Detectives may be examining CCTV footage, cellphone information, witness statements, vehicle movements and forensic evidence from the shooting scene.
They may also be investigating the two gunmen who police said allegedly wore balaclavas and emerged from another vehicle.
The arrests do not necessarily mean that investigators believe all four people in custody were present at the scene.
Their alleged roles, if any, will need to be established through evidence.
What Happened At Tete’s Home?
The shooting happened at about 6.30pm on Friday, August 21, in NU17, Mdantsane.
Police said Tete was in his vehicle with the 27-year-old woman and was waiting for the gate at his home to open.
Two armed men wearing balaclavas allegedly got out of another vehicle and opened fire.
Tete tried to drive into the yard while attempting to escape the gunfire.
“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 hospital.
Police said she remains hospitalised.
Her condition has not been disclosed in detail, and her privacy should be respected while she receives treatment.
The attempted-murder charge in the case relates to the injuries she suffered during the attack.
Investigators will be expected to establish the sequence of events and determine what evidence supports the murder and attempted-murder allegations.
From False Reports To Confirmed Arrests
The latest announcement follows an earlier period of confusion after unverified reports circulated online claiming that suspects had already been arrested.
At the time, police described those reports as “false and unfounded”.
The latest arrests have now been confirmed by the Eastern Cape police, but officers continue to warn against speculation.
The earlier false reports demonstrate how quickly inaccurate information can spread during a high-profile investigation.
Tete was a well-known athlete with a large following in Mdantsane and across South Africa, making the case especially likely to attract online attention.
False information can cause distress to the family, expose innocent people to suspicion and potentially interfere with police work or future court proceedings.
Police have asked people not to circulate unverified details while detectives continue their investigation.
The confirmation that one person has been released as a potential witness also shows why early reports about arrests must be treated carefully.
A person may initially be detained for questioning and later be released without being charged.
Tete’s Family Wants Justice
Tete’s family has called for justice following the loss of the former two-division world champion.
His older brother, Siyabulela Tete, said the family was devastated by the death of the man they affectionately called “Master”.
“Master was a disciplined person. As the last-born in the family, he always made sure everyone around him was happy and in good spirits. We will sorely miss him because he was the anchor of our family,” he said.
The family had been looking forward to Tete returning to professional boxing after his suspension ended.
“We were very happy that Zolani was coming back to boxing. We were anxious and worried during his suspension, but we were excited that he was getting another opportunity.”
Siyabulela said the family did not know why Tete had been killed.
“We pray that justice is served for our brother because we do not know why someone would be so heartless and kill an innocent person like that,” he said.
The family has not been given a public explanation for the motive.
That answer will depend on the evidence gathered by investigators and any information later presented in court.
Premier Pays Tribute To Boxing Champion
Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane described Tete’s killing as a devastating loss for the province.
“The province has lost one of its finest sporting sons,” Mabuyane said.
He said Tete had risen from the streets and boxing gyms of Mdantsane to become a world champion who carried the pride of the Eastern Cape and South Africa onto the global stage.
“His journey inspired countless young people because he demonstrated that a child growing up in our townships can dream beyond their immediate circumstances and ultimately stand among the best in the world.”
Tete’s career made him a prominent figure in South African boxing and a source of pride in the community where he grew up.
The tributes have continued as the investigation enters a new phase involving multiple suspects and an injured passenger who remains in hospital.
Tete’s World Championship Legacy
Tete was one of South Africa’s most successful boxers and won world titles in two weight divisions.
He captured 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 also holds a Guinness World Record for the fastest knockout in a world-title fight.
On November 18, 2017, he stopped Siboniso Gonya in 11 seconds at the SSE Arena in Belfast.
He finished his professional career with 34 fights, 29 wins, including 22 knockouts, four losses and one no contest.
Tete grew up in Mdantsane and began boxing at the age of eight.
He was trained by former world champion Vuyani Bungu, who helped guide his development before Tete established himself on the international stage.
Comeback Plans Cut Short
Tete had not fought since July 2022, when he stopped Jason Cunningham at Wembley.
The result was later changed to a no contest after Tete tested positive for the banned steroid stanozolol.
He received a four-year ban, which ended on July 29, 2026.
Tete maintained that he had never knowingly taken the substance.
After the ban ended, he had been preparing for a possible return to professional boxing.
His family had been looking forward to seeing him compete again, and his manager had indicated that a comeback was being planned.
The shooting ended those plans and left supporters mourning a champion whose career had already taken him from Mdantsane to world-title success.
Court Process Begins
The 27-year-old suspect arrested on Saturday is expected to appear in the Mdantsane Magistrate’s Court on Monday on charges of murder and attempted murder.
The three suspects arrested on Sunday are expected to appear in court soon.
The court process will provide the first opportunity for the State to place the charges formally before the accused and for the defence to respond.
The accused may apply for bail, depending on the charges and the State’s position.
Any bail hearing will focus on whether the accused should remain in custody while the case proceeds. It will not decide their guilt.
The State will still have to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt if the matter proceeds to trial.
The four people in custody remain presumed innocent unless a court finds them guilty.
The 30-year-old who was released remains a potential witness, and no criminal charge against him has been reported in the latest update.
Investigation Remains Active
Police have not ruled out further arrests.
Gantana said investigators were continuing to follow leads and that more arrests were expected.
The latest development means that detectives are now questioning or preparing cases against several people, but the public still does not know the alleged roles of the four people in custody.
Police have also not disclosed whether the firearm used in the attack has been recovered or whether any of the arrested people have made statements.
Those questions may be addressed later as the investigation develops and the court process begins.
For now, the confirmed position is that Tete was killed at his Mdantsane home, a female passenger was wounded, five people have been arrested during the investigation, four remain in custody and one has been released as a potential witness.
One of the four in custody has been formally charged and is expected in court on Monday.
The other three are expected to appear soon.
Police have not confirmed a motive and are asking the public to avoid speculation.
Anyone with credible information about the shooting is urged to contact Inyibiba SAPS or Crime Stop on 08600 10111. Information will be treated confidentially.
