The 38-year-old Tete was killed in his car in Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape province, according to South Africa’s Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie, he was shot early morning at his home
A 27-year-old woman who was in the vehicle with Tete was also shot multiple times and remains in hospital, McKenzie said.
Police said Tete was arriving at his residence and waiting for the gate to open when two armed suspects wearing balaclavas ambushed him.
Tete held the WBF flyweight world title from 2007 to 2008 and the WBO bantamweight title in 2017 and 2019.
The southpaw’s breakthrough came in 2014 when he defeated Japan’s Teiru Kinoshita on points to win the IBF junior-bantamweight world title. He later captured the WBO interim title before becoming a recognized world champion.
Tete produced one of the fastest knockouts in world-title boxing history in 2017, stopping Siboniso Gonya with the first punch of their fight after just 11 seconds.
He finished his professional career with 29 victories, including 22 knockouts, four defeats and one no contest.
Tete’s final fight came in July 2022, when he defeated Britain’s Jason Cunningham at Wembley Arena in London.
The result was later overturned after Tete tested positive for stanozolol, leading to a four-year suspension. Tete consistently denied knowingly taking the banned substance.
His suspension expired in July, and the former champion had been preparing for a potential return to the ring.
Police are investigating the shooting and searching for the two suspects involved in the