Former boxing world champion Dingaan Bongane Thobela, known as “The Rose of Soweto” was found dead in his flat in Mayfair, Johannesburg, on Monday evening.
His childhood friend Eddie Mutungutungu confirmed the the death of Thobela.
“He was strangely unavailable on his mobile, and his family, accompanied by police, managed to gain access to his place of residence and found he had passed on,” said Mutungutungu.
It is reported that the 57-year-old Thobela had been unwell and his poor health prevented him from attending Boxing SA’s symposium at the Arena Holdings offices in Parktown last Friday.
Thobela was separated from his common law wife Sandra. They had two children together, Ntombi and Dingaan Thobela Junior.
Thobela turned pro in 1986 and won the WBO lightweight title in 1990 after beating Mauricio Aceves.
Thobela competed as a South African professional boxer between 1990 and 2006.
He was a world champion in two weight classes, having held the WBO lightweight title from 1990 to 1992, the WBA lightweight in 1993, and the WBC super-middleweight title in 2000.
Thobela died on 29 April 2024, at the age of 57.
This is a developing story.