Who was Nathi Mthethwa? South African ambassador to France found dead at 58 after falling from 22nd-floor Paris hotel

Nathi Mthethwa dead at 58

South Africa’s ambassador to France, Nkosinathi Emmanuel “Nathi” Mthethwa, has been found dead outside the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Paris, French officials confirmed on Tuesday.

The 58-year-old diplomat was reported missing by his wife on Monday evening after she received what authorities described as a “worrying message from him.” His body was later discovered at the foot of the high-rise hotel in western Paris.

The Paris prosecutor’s office said Mthethwa had booked a room on the 22nd floor of the hotel, where a secured window had been forced open. An investigation has been launched into the circumstances of his death.

Reports of a possible suicide

French media, including Le Parisien, reported that Mthethwa was believed to have killed himself, though the prosecutor’s office said it could not pre-empt the outcome of the inquiry. Police reportedly searched the nearby Bois de Boulogne park with canine units after Mthethwa’s phone was last detected there.

South Africa mourns

South Africa’s Ministry of International Relations confirmed the death, calling it a “national loss.”

In a statement, the ministry said, “Ambassador Mthethwa was a distinguished servant of the nation, whose career was marked by dedicated service in critical ministerial portfolios.”

Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola added, “I have no doubt that his passing is not only a national loss but is also felt within the international diplomatic community.”

The government extended its condolences to his wife, children, family, and colleagues “during this period of immense grief.”

Who is Nathi Mthethwa?

Nkosinathi Emmanuel “Nathi” Mthethwa had a long and influential career in both politics and diplomacy before he was appointed South Africa’s ambassador to France in December 2023. In February 2024, he also took on the role of South Africa’s permanent representative to UNESCO.

Before becoming a diplomat, Mthethwa held several key ministerial posts, including Safety and Security, Police, Arts and Culture, and later Sport, Arts and Culture between 2008 and 2023. He also played a pivotal role in South Africa’s 2010 FIFA World Cup as a board member of the local organising committee.

Role in the ANC

A senior figure within the African National Congress (ANC), Mthethwa was a member of the party’s National Executive Committee (2007–2022) and also served on the influential National Working Committee (NWC), which helps oversee the party’s daily affairs.

He was regarded as a close ally of former President Jacob Zuma and was named in the state capture inquiry, which investigated corruption allegations during Zuma’s presidency.

Legacy of service

The Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation described his passing as the loss of a leader whose “lifelong commitment to public duty was further exemplified by his longstanding contribution to the ANC through its highest decision-making structures.” Mthethwa is survived by his wife and children.