President Ramaphosa Declares Special Provincial Funeral For Slain Boxing Icon 

MDANTSANE – President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially declared a Special Provincial Official Funeral (Category 2) for the slain former two-time world boxing champion, Zolani “Last Born” Tete, following an urgent request by Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane.

The formal declaration comes as the province prepares to bid farewell to one of its greatest sporting icons at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium on Saturday, 29 August 2026.

As a mark of respect, President Ramaphosa has directed that the South African national flag be flown at half-mast throughout the Eastern Cape on the day of the funeral.

Premier Mabuyane, who championed the bid for state honors, described Tete’s brutal murder on 21 August as a devastating blow to the nation.

He emphasized that Tete’s rise from the streets of Mdantsane to capturing the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Organisation (WBO) world titles embodied the resilience of the Eastern Cape, making him a fitting recipient of a state-sanctioned farewell.

Dramatic Court Appearances and Medical Twists

Meanwhile, the legal machinery is moving swiftly following a 72-hour police activation plan that netted four suspects.

The Mdantsane Magistrate’s Court recently witnessed dramatic scenes when the alleged mastermind, 22-year-old Uzuzole Goqwana, appeared in a wheelchair.

Goqwana was intercepted by police at King Phalo Airport while allegedly attempting to flee the province.

His legal team vehemently argued for bail or an immediate hospital transfer, citing a severe, undisclosed medical condition.

Rejecting the defense’s initial plea for an outside hospital stay, the magistrate ordered that Goqwana be remanded in custody under strict medical supervision within a secure correctional facility wing in West Bank (KuGompo).

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Goqwana’s appearance was followed by three co-accused: alleged hitmen Siphesihle Kolisa (28) and Athandwa Gangala (27), and alleged middleman Sinebongo Qase (28).

In a surprise turn, two of the accused officially abandoned their bids for freedom.

The State is fiercely opposing bail for the remaining suspects, confirming that they are treating the boxing star’s assassination as a Schedule 6 premeditated murder.

This means the accused person planned the crime before carrying it out, rather than acting on a sudden impulse.

Prosecutors cited intense public outrage and the risk of witness tampering as key reasons to keep the men behind bars.

Investigators have also successfully recovered three firearms believed to have been used in the execution-style killing.

The formal bail hearing for Goqwana and his remaining co-accused is scheduled for 1 September 2026, while those who abandoned bail are set to return to the dock on 13 October 2026.