South Africans and boxing fans are paying tribute to legendary boxer Dingaan Thobela, who died on Monday following an undisclosed illness.

He was aged 57.

The former world boxing champion was discovered dead at his apartment in Johannesburg after family members failed to get hold of him on the phone, a spokesperson told AFP news agency.

"When mobile phone calls to him went unanswered, we came to his flat, gained entry and discovered he had died," a relative said.

Thobela, who had been nicknamed "The Rose of Soweto" after the township he grew up in, was one of South Africa's most successful boxers.

He competed professionally from 1990 to 2006, winning three world titles in two weight divisions.

He had a record 40 wins out of the 56 fights he entered, 26 of which were knockouts.

"In the ring you dazzled us with your incredible speed, skill, devastating power, and tenacity," one user on social media platform X said.

"So many moments he gave us. Some memorable and some work of comedy," another said.