French prosecutors have launched an investigation into the death of South Africa’s ambassador to France, Nkosinathi Emmanuel “Nathi” Mthethwa, whose body was discovered in the courtyard of a Paris hotel on Tuesday morning.
According to Paris public prosecutor Laure Beccuau, the 58-year-old diplomat had checked into a room on the 22nd floor of the Hyatt hotel at 4:30 p.m. on Monday after leaving his Paris residence. A security guard found his body in the courtyard below at 11:30 a.m. the following day. Beccuau revealed that Mthethwa had booked the room approximately 10 days prior to his death.
Preliminary findings indicate that Mthethwa may have fallen from the hotel shortly after sending what authorities described as a “disturbing message” to his wife suggesting he intended to take his own life. Hotel staff discovered that the window’s safety mechanism in his room had been forced open using scissors that were left at the scene. Investigators reported finding no signs of struggle or traces of medication or narcotics in the room.
“While initial investigations suggest that this may have been a deliberate act, without third-party intervention, the purpose of this investigation is to gather any evidence useful to understanding the facts,” Beccuau stated.
Mthethwa had served as South Africa’s envoy to France since December 2023, capping a lengthy and prominent political career. The veteran African National Congress member rose through the party’s ranks after campaigning against apartheid in his youth. He held several high-profile ministerial positions, including Police Minister and Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, and served in parliament. He also sat on the board of directors for the 2010 FIFA World Cup local organizing committee.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged that Mthethwa’s life “ended prematurely and traumatically” while praising his service to the nation. The government described him as “a distinguished servant of the nation, whose career was marked by dedicated service.”
However, Mthethwa’s public service record was marred by persistent corruption allegations, which he consistently denied. As an ally of former President Jacob Zuma, he became entangled in multiple commission investigations. A 2019 probe heard testimony alleging that a luxury vehicle was purchased for him with funds secretly diverted from a secret service account while he served as Police Minister, according to state broadcaster SABC.
More recently, Mthethwa faced an active investigation that included accusations from a provincial police commissioner alleging he had attempted to obstruct the prosecution of a former head of South Africa’s Crime Intelligence Services who was under investigation for corruption. Reports indicate he was expected to respond to these allegations before his death.
Not everyone accepts the initial findings of the investigation. Opposition lawmaker Carl Niehaus publicly stated his belief that “the death of Nathi Mthethwa was not a natural death,” suggesting it “happened under what are evidently suspicious circumstances.”
The investigation continues as French authorities work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the ambassador’s death.
