By Johnathan Paoli
South Africa’s ambassador to France and former Cabinet minister, Nathi Mthethwa, has been found dead in Paris under circumstances that have shocked both French and South African authorities.
French newspaper Le Parisien reported that the 58-year-old diplomat’s body was discovered on Tuesday at the Hyatt Regency Paris Étoile, where he had checked into a room on the 22nd floor.
Investigators said the window of his hotel room had been forced open.
According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, Mthethwa’s wife raised the alarm after receiving a “worrying message” from him on Monday evening.
Police launched a search of the Bois de Boulogne and surrounding areas after he was last seen that afternoon.
His body was located the following day, reportedly after a fall from the upper floors of the hotel.
While police have not confirmed the cause of death, French media outlets have reported it as a suspected suicide.
One of Mthethwa’s last public appearances was over the weekend at the 109th anniversary commemoration of the Battle of Delville Wood in Longueval, Somme.
In a solemn ceremony attended by diplomats and military officials, he laid a wreath at the tomb of Private Beleza Myengwa, a South African Labour Corps soldier of World War I.
On Tuesday afternoon, international relations and co-operation department spokesperson Chrispin Phiri confirmed on Tuesday that Mthethwa died in France and said, “government of the Republic of South Africa announces with deep sorrow the passing of His Excellency Ambassador Nkosinathi Emmanuel Mthethwa, South Africa’s Ambassador to the French Republic.”
International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola said: “I have no doubt that his passing is not only a national loss but is also felt within the international diplomatic community.”
Mthethwa was appointed ambassador to France in February 2024 after a long career in government.
He served as Arts and Culture Minister from 2014 to 2019, and as Sport, Arts and Culture Minister from 2019 until 2023.
Before that, he held the Police portfolio between 2009 and 2014.
A longstanding member of the ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Working Committee (NWC) from 2007 to 2022, he remained a significant figure within the party.
In recent months, however, his name resurfaced during the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into political interference in law enforcement.
Testimony by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi alleged that Mthethwa had sought to influence former Inspector General of Intelligence Faith Radebe to drop charges against disgraced crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli.
His death comes amid heightened political scrutiny, with the commission exposing deep-seated networks of interference linked to several police ministers.
Mthethwa’s sudden passing is expected to trigger tributes and controversy in equal measure, both at home and abroad.
Nkosinathi Emmanuel Mthethwa in Cape Town in 2023.Credit…Jeffrey Abrahams/Gallo Images, via Getty Images
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