The South Africa ambassador to France, Nkosinathi Emmanuel “Nathi” Mthethwa, was found dead on Tuesday outside the Hyatt Regency hotel in West Paris, said the Paris prosecutor’s office.
According to the prosecutor, his wife had been reported by Mthethwa on Monday night after she received a text message from him that caused her concern.
He had reserved a room on the 22nd floor of the hotel, where the investigators found that a safe window had opened. The authorities said the investigation is ongoing and refused to speculate on the result.
The French media, including Le Parisien, reported that it was believed that Mthethwa took his life, although no official source was cited.
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The South Africa Foreign Affairs Department confirmed his death, stating that the French authorities are investigating the circumstances.
“Ambassador Mthethwa was a distinguished servant of the nation, whose career was marked by a service dedicated to critical ministerial portfolios,” the department said in a statement, describing his death as “a national loss.”
According to the South Africa Embassy website, Mthethwa previously served as Minister of Arts and Culture from 2014 to 2019 and then celebrated the combined portfolio of arts, culture and sport from 2019 to 2023.
(NBC News)
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