The Mystery of the South African Ambassador’s Death in Paris: Investigation Team Dispatched to Uncover the Truth
By: Iman Alaoui/ ALDAR
The South African authorities have announced the dispatch of a team of senior investigators to the French capital, Paris, to take part in the ongoing probe into the death of their ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa, who was found dead under mysterious circumstances inside a hotel in the French capital last week.
The incident, described as “tragic,” has sent shockwaves through diplomatic circles in Johannesburg, especially since Mthethwa, aged 58, was considered one of the country’s most prominent political figures, having held several key ministerial positions over the past two decades.
According to French authorities, the ambassador’s body was discovered in an inner courtyard of the Hyatt Regency Hotel after falling from the 22nd floor. Preliminary examinations indicated that the window of the room he was staying in had been tampered with, disabling its safety mechanism. However, no signs of physical assault or traces of narcotics were found in the initial forensic analyses.
The ambassador’s wife had reported him missing a day before the incident, after receiving a distressing text message from him containing an apology and hints that he intended to end his life. This has opened the door to conflicting theories — ranging from a possible suicide to suspicions of foul play.
French police swiftly opened a full-scale investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the death. Meanwhile, the South African government announced that five senior officers were being sent to Paris to participate in the investigation and ensure full transparency, according to South African Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola.
Nathi Mthethwa was a leading figure in the African National Congress (ANC). He held several ministerial roles, including Minister of Police between 2009 and 2014, Minister of Arts and Culture until 2019, and later Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture until 2023. In February last year, he assumed his duties as South Africa’s ambassador to France. His sudden death has deeply shocked his colleagues and friends in the diplomatic community.
Joint investigations between Paris and Pretoria are still underway, as South African public opinion demands that the truth be revealed and the ambiguity surrounding the death of one of the country’s most prominent political figures be fully cleared.
