Nathi Mthethwa’s hotel window ‘forced open’
News reports from France suggest South African ambassador Nathi Mthethwa may have died by suicide in Paris.
Nathi Mthethwa’s hotel window at a fancy Paris hotel was pried open prior to his death.
This is according to reports coming out of France after South Africa’s ambassador to the country was found dead on Tuesday afternoon.
“South Africa’s ambassador to France, formerly a long-serving cabinet minister, was found dead on Tuesday, September 30, outside a Paris hotel after the window of his room in the high-rise building was forced open, prosecutors said,” reported French news outlet Le Monde.
“Emmanuel Nkosinathi Mthethwa, 58, usually known as Nathi Mthethwa, had ‘reserved a room on the 22nd floor whose secured window had been forced open’,” the news site quoted the office of the Paris prosecutor as saying.
Earlier, another French publication – Le Parisien – broke the news of Mthethwa’s death, reporting that South Africa’s former sports minister had allegedly jumped to his death from the 22nd floor of the Hyatt Hotel.
Condolences from Ramaphosa
In the aftermath of his death, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the “untimely passing of Ambassador Nathi Mthethwa is a moment of deep grief”.
“Ambassador Mthethwa has served our nation in diverse capacities during a lifetime that has ended prematurely and traumatically.
“In his last tenure of service he has facilitated the deepening of relations between South and the Republic of France, which has produced benefits for individuals and businesses in both countries and advanced our cooperation in the global arena.
“May his soul rest in peace.”
Mthethwa went missing on Monday
Mthethwa was first reported missing on Monday by his wife Philisiwe Mthethwa, “who indicated having received a worrying message from him in the evening”, Le Parisien reported the Paris prosecutor’s office as saying.
Paris police then deployed their canine unit to nearby woods, “fearing a possible suicide”.
Mthethwa’s background
Mthethwa, who served as sport, arts and culture minister from 2019 until 2023, was posted to France in February 2024.
He first became a member of Parliament in 2002, with the KwaZulu-Natal-born politician serving in the National Assembly until 2023. From 2008 until 2014, Mthethwa served as minister of police in then-president Jacob Zuma’s Cabinet.
He became a member of the ANC’s national executive committee at the party’s Polokwane conference in 2007 and served on the body until 2022.