Paris, France — The South African ambassador to France, Emmanuel Nkosinathi Mthethwa, known as Nathi Mthethwa, was found dead on Tuesday morning at the foot of a luxury hotel tower in western Paris, a French prosecutor said.
The 58-year-old ambassador had been reported missing on Monday evening, after his wife said she received a worrying message from him “in which he apologized and expressed his intention to take his own life,” Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said in a statement.
On Tuesday morning, a security guard at the Hyatt hotel discovered Mthethwa’s body in the inner courtyard, Beccuau said, adding an investigation has been opened.
Mthethwa had booked a room on the 22nd floor of the hotel, where the window’s safety mechanism had been forced open, Beccuau said. The statement said investigators found no signs of a struggle, nor traces of medication or illegal drugs.
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed his sadness at the death of Mthethwa “in tragic circumstances.”
In a statement released by his office, Ramaphosa offered his deep condolences to Mthethwa’s wife and family.
South Africa’s foreign ministry said Mthethwa had been appointed ambassador to France in December 2023, tasked with strengthening bilateral ties.
Mthethwa previously served as minister of police and minister of sports, arts and culture.
Who was Diplomat Nathi Mthethwa?
Nathi Mthethwa was a prominent South African politician and diplomat who dedicated decades of his career to public service, both domestically and internationally. In February 2024, he was appointed to the South African Embassy in France after serving as the country’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO, where he worked to strengthen South Africa’s cultural diplomacy and multilateral engagement.
Before his diplomatic career, Mthethwa held several key ministerial posts. From 2019 to 2023, he served as Minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture, a portfolio under which he promoted South Africa’s cultural identity and oversaw major sporting initiatives. Prior to that, he was Minister of Arts and Culture from May 2014 to 2019, leading efforts to preserve national heritage and support the creative industries.
His tenure in government was marked by efforts to integrate arts and culture into broader social and economic development.
Within the African National Congress (ANC), Mthethwa played an influential role for over a decade. He was a member of the ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) from 2007 to 2022, the highest decision-making body of the party between national conferences.
During this time, he also served on the ANC’s National Working Committee (NWC), which manages the party’s day-to-day affairs and provides recommendations to the NEC on strategic issues. His work in these roles placed him at the center of policy formulation and political strategy in the governing party.
Mthethwa’s career reflected a commitment to both governance and diplomacy, bridging domestic responsibilities with South Africa’s international presence. His contributions left a lasting imprint on cultural policy, political leadership, and the promotion of South Africa on the global stage.
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