Tete Murder Was a Planned Hit, State Tells Court — Mastermind Used Middleman to Hire Gunmen
The murder of former world boxing champion Zolani Tete Murder was allegedly a carefully planned hit, the state told the Mdantsane Magistrate’s Court.
Four men appeared in court on Tuesday facing charges linked to Tete’s murder and the attempted murder of his girlfriend.
Tete, 38, was shot dead in NU17, Mdantsane, at about 6:30pm on Friday. He was reportedly waiting for his gate to open when gunmen attacked him.
The state alleges that 22-year-old Uzuzole Goqwana masterminded the killing. According to NPA spokesperson Luxolo Tyali, Goqwana allegedly used 28-year-old Sinebongo Qase as a middleman to recruit the alleged hitmen, Siphesihle Kolisa, 28, and Athandwa Gangala, 27.
The state considers the murder premeditated and has classified it under Schedule 6 of the Criminal Procedure Act.
Prosecutors are expected to oppose bail because of the seriousness of the charges.
Goqwana was arrested on Saturday, while Kolisa and Gangala were arrested in Scenery Park, KuGompo City, on Sunday. Qase was arrested on Monday.
Firearms and ammunition were recovered during the arrests of Kolisa and Gangala.
Tete’s 27-year-old girlfriend, who was in the passenger seat, was also shot several times. She remains in hospital.
Kolisa and Gangala have already appeared separately in the KuGompo Magistrate’s Court on charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. They have since abandoned their bail applications.
Goqwana and Qase are expected back in the Mdantsane Magistrate’s Court next Tuesday for their formal bail application.
Tete, known as “Last Born”, was a former two-division world champion. He won his first world title in 2014 before claiming the WBO bantamweight title in 2017.
He also set a Guinness World Record in 2017 after knocking out fellow South African Siboniso Gonya in just 11 seconds.
Tete was killed weeks after completing a four-year doping ban as he prepared for a comeback.
His memorial service is scheduled for Wednesday at the Orient Theatre in KuGompo City, while his funeral will take place in Mdantsane on Saturday.
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