South Africa’s ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa, has been found dead near a Paris hotel, French officials confirmed on Tuesday. Mthethwa, 58, was reported missing on Monday evening after his wife alerted authorities following a “worrying message” from him.
According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, the ambassador had booked a room on the 22nd floor of the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Investigators discovered that the security window of his room had been forced open. While the exact cause of death remains unclear, French authorities have opened a formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding his passing.
A duty magistrate was sent to the scene, and officials emphasized that all possibilities remain under consideration.
Political Career and Service
Nathi Mthethwa was a veteran politician and senior figure within the African National Congress (ANC), South Africa’s ruling party since the end of apartheid in 1994. He served in several high-profile cabinet positions, including as police minister and later as minister of arts and culture.
In December 2023, he was appointed South Africa’s ambassador to France, taking up one of the country’s most prestigious diplomatic postings.
Mthethwa was also a close ally of former President Jacob Zuma and was implicated during the state capture inquiry, which investigated large-scale corruption under Zuma’s administration.
Tributes and Reaction
South Africa’s Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola paid tribute to Mthethwa, describing him as a “distinguished servant of the nation.”
“I have no doubt that his passing is not only a national loss but is also felt within the international diplomatic community,” Lamola said in a statement.
As investigations continue in Paris, the South African government has pledged to work closely with French authorities to establish the full circumstances of Mthethwa’s death.
His sudden passing marks a major loss for South African diplomacy and the African National Congress.
