Emmanuel Thomas l Tuesday, Sept 30, 2025
PARIS, France – South Africa is in mourning following the tragic death of its Ambassador to France, Nkosinathi Emmanuel “Nathi” Mthethwa, who was found dead at the foot of a high-rise Paris hotel early on Tuesday.
French media outlet Le Parisien reported that the body of Ambassador Mthethwa, 58, was discovered outside the Hyatt Hotel in the French capital.
The incident is being treated by French authorities as an apparent suicide, with initial reports suggesting he had fallen from the 22nd floor of the hotel.
The tragic discovery followed an alarm raised by the ambassador’s wife on Monday evening, after she reportedly received a “worrying message” from the diplomat.
According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, the message included an apology and an expression of his intention to take his own life.
Authorities confirmed that Mr. Mthethwa had booked a room on the 22nd floor of the hotel, and the safety mechanism on the room’s window was found to have been forced open.
Investigators have stated that no signs of a struggle or traces of drugs were found in the room.
The South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) confirmed the death with “deep sorrow and profound regret,” and stated that the circumstances of his passing are currently under investigation by French authorities.
President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed his sadness at the untimely passing of Mr. Mthethwa “in tragic circumstances,” extending his deepest condolences to his wife and family.
The President lauded his service, noting that he had “served our nation in diverse capacities during a lifetime that has ended prematurely and traumatically.”
Nkosinathi Emmanuel “Nathi” Mthethwa was a long-serving and well-known figure in South African politics and public life before his diplomatic posting.
Career Trajectory: Mthethwa served as a Member of Parliament for the African National Congress (ANC) for over two decades.
Ministerial Roles: His cabinet career included high-profile roles such as Minister of Police (previously Safety and Security) from 2008 to 2014, and subsequent tenure as Minister of Arts and Culture (2014-2019) and later Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture (2019-2023).
He was appointed as South Africa’s Ambassador to the Republic of France in December 2023, a posting he had held until his death. His role was seen as critical for strengthening bilateral ties between South Africa and France.
His political career included periods of intense public scrutiny, particularly during his time as Police Minister, where he was a figure in the public discourse surrounding the 2012 Marikana massacre.
National Executive: He was also a long-standing member of the ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and its National Working Committee (NWC).
His sudden death in Paris marks a devastating end to a decades-long career of public service, leaving the diplomatic community and South Africa’s political landscape in shock.
