Zolani Tete, a boxing world champion in multiple weight classes, was shot dead in his hometown, Mdantsane, Eastern Cape, South Africa, according to reports.

He was 38 years old.

According to journalist Velile Mnyandu of SABC Sport in South Africa, Tete was shot Friday evening local time in front of his house at NU17 while returning from the gym.

Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana, a spokesperson from Eastern Cape police, confirmed that the shooting occurred on Friday night at around 6:30 p.m.

Gantana noted that Tete had just gotten home and was waiting for the gate to open when he and a 27-year-old female passenger were ambushed by what wis said to be two unknown armed suspects wearing balaclavas. 

“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 per eNCA in South Africa.

Tete was reportedly preparing for a return bout on Sunday, November 29, according to Ink Sport.

A world champion at junior bantamweight and later bantamweight, Tete last appeared in the ring on July 2, 2022, when he knocked out Jason Cunningham in the fourth round, but the bout was later changed to a no contest after he tested positive for stanozolol.

Tete was banned for four years in August of 2023, which ended on July 29, 2026 — less than one month before his death.

At his peak, Tete was one of Africa’s best boxers in the lighter weight classes, accumulating his first world title by upsetting Teiru Kinoshita by decision in Japan in 2014, winning the IBF Junior Bantamweight Title.

He won the WBO Interim Bantamweight Title on April 22, 2017 via unanimous decision against Arthur Villanueva, later being elevated to full champion, and defended his title successfully three times before losing to John Riel Casimero in late 2019.

Tete was also one of the eight competitors in the single-elimination World Boxing Super Series from 2018-2019 at bantamweight, and after winning in the quarterfinals, he was scheduled to face legendary Nonito Donaire in the semifinals in April of 2019, but had to pull out of the fight due to a shoulder injury.

Tete’s record was 29-4 with 22 knockouts.