In a tragic development, South African ambassador to France and former cabinet minister Nathi Mthethwa has been found dead in Paris. French authorities have confirmed that his body was discovered on Tuesday, following reports that he had gone missing earlier in the week.
Mthethwa, 56, was serving as South Africa’s ambassador to France and its permanent delegate to UNESCO, a post he had held since February 2024. His death is being investigated by local authorities, with initial reports indicating he may have fallen — or jumped — from the 22nd floor of a Paris hotel.
According to The Mirror, Mthethwa had booked a room on the 22nd floor of a four-star hotel in Paris, where investigators say a secure window had been forced open. His wife reported him missing after receiving a “disturbing message” from him earlier in the week.
French police, fearing a possible suicide, launched a large-scale search involving canine units. Mthethwa’s phone had last pinged near a botanical garden in western Paris, prompting search teams to comb the area. Despite these efforts, it was later confirmed that his body had been found at the hotel from which he had fallen.
A Paris magistrate has been assigned to the case, and investigations are ongoing to determine the exact circumstances of his death.
Mthethwa was a senior figure in the ANC and served in multiple high-profile roles in government over the years:
Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture (2019–2023)
Minister of Arts and Culture (2014–2019)
Minister of Police (2009–2014)
He was also a long-time member of the ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Working Committee (NWC), serving from 2007 to 2022.
In recent months, Mthethwa’s name resurfaced during testimony at the Madlanga Commission, where he was implicated in allegations of political interference during his tenure as police minister. The commission is still ongoing and is examining the broader politicisation of law enforcement in South Africa.
News of Mthethwa’s sudden death has sent shockwaves through both diplomatic and political circles. He had been a prominent public figure for over two decades and was considered a seasoned statesman by many in the ANC.
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has yet to issue an official statement, but government sources say they are liaising with French authorities and Mthethwa’s family.
As investigations continue in Paris, tributes are expected to pour in from colleagues, political allies, and those who worked with Mthethwa throughout his long public service career.
Main Image: People Magazine
