President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his shock and sadness at the untimely death of South Africa’s Ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa, whose body was found in Paris under tragic circumstances on Tuesday morning, just hours after being reported missing.
The 58-year-old diplomat’s body was discovered on Tuesday morning outside the Hyatt Hotel at Porte Maillot in Paris’s 17th arrondissement. French media reports suggest that Mthethwa fell from the 22nd floor of the hotel, though French authorities have not yet officially confirmed the exact circumstances surrounding his death.
According to reports, Mthethwa sent a “worrying message” to his wife, Philisiwe Buthelezi, on Monday night, prompting her to report him missing. His phone last rang around 15:00 on Monday. The Paris prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation, with a duty magistrate dispatched to the scene.
Multiple French news outlets have covered the incident. Le Parisien and Reuters confirmed that the ambassador was found dead at the foot of the Hyatt hotel, with an investigation opened into the circumstances.
La Dépêche reported that the ambassador reportedly took his own life by jumping from the 22nd floor of the hotel after his wife reported his disappearance following the worrying message.
Actu17 noted that the ambassador had been reported missing Monday afternoon after an alert from his wife, with his body found the next day following a fall from a high floor.
African Press Agency (APA) reported similar details, noting that the Paris prosecutor’s office has been informed and an investigation is underway.
Mthethwa was a veteran politician with over three decades in South African politics. He was appointed as South Africa’s Ambassador to France in December 2023, marking a new diplomatic chapter after more than two decades in Parliament.
His cabinet positions included Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture (2019-2023), Minister of Arts and Culture (2014-2019), Minister of Police (2008-2014 and Minister of Safety and Security (2008)
Born on 23 January 1967, in KwaZulu-Natal, Mthethwa was a prominent figure within the African National Congress (ANC). He served on the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Working Committee (NWC) between 2007 and 2022, and represented the ANC in South Africa’s National Assembly from 2002 to 2023.
His political involvement began during South Africa’s transition to democracy, when he was elected as the first Branch Secretary of the ANC in Klaarwater, KZN, in 1990 – the same year the ANC was unbanned.
Mthethwa’s death comes amid his recent implication in the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry. During testimony, KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi alleged that, while serving as police minister, Mthethwa attempted to influence former Inspector-General of Intelligence Faith Radebe to drop charges against Richard Mdluli, the former head of police crime intelligence.
In a press statement, Ramaphosa expressed his condolences to Mthethwa’s wife and his extended family.
In his statement he said: “The untimely passing of Ambassador Nathi Mthethwa is a moment of deep grief in which government and citizens stand beside the Mthethwa family. Ambassador Mthethwa has served our nation in diverse capacities during a lifetime that has ended prematurely and traumatically.”
The President highlighted Mthethwa’s 15 years of cabinet service and praised his recent diplomatic work: “In his last tenure of service he has facilitated the deepening of relations between South Africa and the Republic of France, which has produced benefits for individuals and businesses in both countries and advanced our cooperation in the global arena.”
Both French and South African authorities will continue to investigate the circumstances of Mthethwa’s death.
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