Zolani Tete Murder Suspect Uzuzole Goqwana, 22, Appears in Court in a Wheelchair
- A 22-year-old suspect in the fatal shooting of former boxing world champion Zolani Tete arrived at Mdantsane Magistrate's Court in a wheelchair
- SAPS confirmed four suspects are in custody following Tete's killing at NU 17, Mdantsane, on 21 August 2026
- South Africans online questioned whether the wheelchair was a deliberate tactic ahead of the murder trial
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Source: Getty Images
EASTERN CAPE — A 22-year-old man charged in connection with the murder of former world boxing champion Zolani Tete made his first court appearance at the Mdantsane Magistrate's Court on 24 August 2026, arriving in a wheelchair and facing counts of murder and attempted murder.
The South African Police Service in the Eastern Cape confirmed that four suspects are currently in custody following Tete's fatal shooting at NU 17, Mdantsane, on 21 August 2026. The suspect, identified as Uzuzole Goqwana, was arrested the following day, on Saturday, 22 August 2026.
Four suspects in custody after Tete's shooting
Two additional suspects were arrested in Scenery Park on Sunday, 23 August 2026, and are due to appear before the KuGompo Magistrate's Court on charges of unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. All three suspects arrested on Sunday, aged 27, 27, and 28, are scheduled to appear at the Mdantsane Magistrate's Court on 25 August 2026 in relation to the primary murder case.
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The attempted murder charge linked to Goqwana's appearance relates to a 27-year-old female passenger who sustained gunshot wounds during the attack. She remains hospitalised at the time of publication.
A 30-year-old man who was initially detained on 22 August 2026 has since been released and is being treated as a potential witness. View the suspect's picture on X:
Wheelchair appearance draws public scrutiny
Goqwana's arrival in a wheelchair drew immediate attention on social media, with many users questioning the circumstances surrounding his condition.
@Rhoyi_Masoka asked:
"Was he in a wheelchair while committing the crime?"
@TechTrekkerZA wrote:
"How is he involved if he can't walk? Or he's a mastermind?"
@Tumsa_Eksel commented:
"Trying to confuse us with a wheelchair, ukuthi how he can shoot someone while he's in a wheelchair 🤣🤣🤣🤣"
@Sikhumokuhle questioned:
"Is he going to claim that he couldn't have been at the scene of the crime because he is wheelchair bound?"
@p6p7rctqqg added:
"I sense there was a woman involved here."
Tete, a former IBF super-bantamweight world champion, was a celebrated figure in South African boxing. His killing has prompted a swift multi-jurisdictional police response, with court proceedings now unfolding across two magistrates' courts simultaneously.
Family devastated by Zolani Tete's death
In a related article, Briefly News reported on the tragic death of two-time world boxing champion Zolani Tete, who was shot outside his home in Mdantsane on Friday night. The overwhelming grief expressed by his family and the boxing community highlights the profound impact of his loss on those who knew him.
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Source: Briefly News
