Zolani Tete Funeral Date Confirmed After Former Boxing World Champion Was Shot Dead
- Zolani 'Last Born' Tete, 38, was shot dead outside his Mdantsane home on Friday evening, with four suspects now in police custody
- Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie led tributes to the former world champion, who had been preparing for a boxing comeback after a four-year ban
- The memorial service is scheduled for 26 August and the funeral for 29 August, both at East London City Hall
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The funeral of former boxing world champion Zolani "Last Born" Tete has been confirmed for Saturday, 29 August 2026, at East London City Hall, following his fatal shooting outside his Mdantsane home on Friday evening. A memorial service will precede the burial on Wednesday, 26 August, at the same venue, running from noon to 4 pm.
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Tete, 38, was reportedly arriving at his home at approximately 6:30 pm when armed men wearing balaclavas opened fire on his vehicle.
A woman travelling with him was wounded and hospitalised, while children who were also in the car escaped unharmed. Four suspects have since been taken into custody in connection with the murder, with a formal investigation now under way.
A champion preparing for his return
The killing came at a moment of renewed purpose for Tete. After serving a four-year suspension that followed a positive test for the prohibited steroid stanozolol detected after his 2022 victory over Jason Cunningham in the United Kingdom, he had consistently maintained that the substance was not taken intentionally. His ban expired in July 2026, and he had begun working towards regaining his professional boxing licence.
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Promotional material for his anticipated comeback had been circulating for weeks, and his team was reportedly targeting a November bout. His manager, Mlandeli Tengimfene, who had worked alongside Tete since 2012, confirmed those plans would not go ahead, telling The Sowetan that everything had changed "now that he is gone forever."
Nation mourns a son of Mdantsane
Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie was among the first officials to publicly mourn the fighter, describing him as "one of the finest fighters it has ever produced." McKenzie also paid tribute to Tete's record, which included a celebrated 11-second knockout of Siboniso Gonya in 2017.
"Your legacy will endure, though, without a timer," McKenzie said.
Beyond his titles and accolades, Tete was widely remembered for his personal generosity. He used earnings from his career to purchase a prosthetic leg for his mother.
The boxing fraternity has rallied in grief, with Tete mourned not only as a decorated professional but as a figure who represented Mdantsane on stages across Belfast, London, Japan and the United States throughout his career.
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Source: Briefly News
