Tragedy has struck the diplomatic community as Nathi Mthethwa, South Africa’s ambassador to France, was found deceased near the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Paris. French officials confirmed the heartbreaking news to the BBC.
Ambassador Mthethwa, 58, was reported missing by his wife on Monday evening after he sent a concerning message. The Paris prosecutor’s office stated that Mthethwa had booked a room on the 22nd floor of the hotel, and a security window there had been forced open. The exact circumstances leading to his death remain unclear, and a thorough investigation has been launched by the French authorities, with a magistrate already en route to the scene.
A prominent figure in South African politics, Mthethwa was a key member of the African National Congress (ANC), the party that ushered in the nation’s democratic era under Nelson Mandela. He had held the ambassadorial post in Paris since December 2023 and previously served as the Minister of Police and the Minister of Arts and Culture. His political career also saw him as a close ally of former President Jacob Zuma, and he was involved in the state capture inquiry, which examined allegations of widespread corruption during Zuma’s presidency.
South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, expressed deep sorrow, remembering Mthethwa as a “distinguished servant of the nation.” Lamola added, “I have no doubt that his passing is not only a national loss but is also felt within the international diplomatic community.” He reiterated that French authorities are actively investigating the incident.