South Africa has dispatched a team of investigators to France following the sudden death of its ambassador, Nathi Mthethwa, who was found dead in his Paris hotel room earlier this week.
- South Africa is investigating the suspected suicide of Ambassador Nathi Mthethwa in Paris.
- Initial findings suggest the ambassador fell from the 22nd floor of the Hyatt Regency in Paris.
- French authorities and South African investigators are jointly conducting the inquiry.
- President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed condolences and called for a transparent investigation.
South Africa is sending a team of top investigators to Paris to assist with the probe into the death of Ambassador Nathi Mthethwa, whose body was discovered in the inner courtyard of the Hyatt Regency hotel after an apparent fall from the 22nd floor.
French authorities have launched an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding his passing, while Pretoria has called for a thorough investigation to determine the cause of death.
National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola confirmed that five seasoned police officers will work alongside French authorities to ensure a thorough and transparent inquest.
Death in the Heart of Paris: Facts and Unanswered Questions
Ambassador Emmanuel Nkosinathi “Nathi” Mthethwa, 58, was found dead in the early hours of Tuesday, September 30, at the Hyatt Regency in western Paris.
The South African diplomat had been reported missing the day before after his wife said she received a distressing message from him, in which he apologized and suggested he intended to take his life.
French prosecutors said the room was on the 22nd floor and that the window’s safety mechanism had been tampered with. They found no immediate signs of struggle, nor traces of drugs or foul play in initial examinations.
President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed sorrow over the incident, calling Mthethwa’s passing “tragic” and offering condolences to his family.
His appointment as ambassador to France began in December 2023, following a long political career in which he served as Minister of Police and Minister of Sports, Arts & Culture.
Complicating matters, Mthethwa had in recent weeks been mentioned during testimony at a judicial commission investigating political interference and corruption in South Africa’s criminal justice system.
Some reports suggest he faced allegations of obstructing investigations while serving as police minister, though he was never formally charged.
A close ally of former South African President Jacob Zuma, who is himself facing corruption charges, Mthethwa’s career was marked by controversy.
His tenure as police minister remains indelibly linked to the 2012 Marikana massacre, one of South Africa’s darkest post-apartheid tragedies, when police opened fire on striking miners, killing 34.
Ongoing probe to involve South African investigators
National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola confirmed that five officers have been deployed to Paris to work with French authorities on the probe into Ambassador Nathi Mthethwa’s death.
He said the officers’ role is to “support a thorough and transparent inquest.”
French prosecutors stated that initial investigations suggest the death may have been a deliberate act, citing a message the ambassador sent to his wife indicating his intention to end his life.
They added that no immediate signs of foul play were found at the scene, but the investigation remains ongoing.
