International Relations

South Africa’s ambassador to France has been found deceased at the foot of the Hyatt Regency hotel, located in the west of Paris, as reported by local media on Tue, Oct 10, 2023.

French media reports indicate that Ambassador Nkosinathi Emmanuel “Nathi” Mthethwa, aged 58, had been missing since Monday afternoon. He is believed to have fallen from the 22nd floor of the hotel in the 17th arrondissement of Paris around 1 pm on Tuesday.

Both Paris Police and the Hyatt hotel have declined to provide comments on the incident. Attempts to reach the South African Embassy for a statement have been unsuccessful.

The ambassador was reported missing by his spouse after receiving a concerning text message from him. His phone was last traced to the Bois de Boulogne, but he remained unlocated until the incident.

A representative from South Africa’s foreign affairs department mentioned they are aware of the reports regarding Ambassador Mthethwa and will release an official statement once more information is available.

Mthethwa participated in the 109th Anniversary of the Battle of Delville Wood in Longueval, Department de la Somme, on Sat, Oct 7, 2023.

Professional Background

Mthethwa was appointed as South Africa’s Ambassador to France and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO in March 2024.

He was an anti-apartheid activist and joined the Youth League of South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) in 1990. He was elected to its National Executive Committee in 1994, serving as secretary until 2001.

Mthethwa entered the South African Parliament in 2002 and was appointed Chief Whip of the ANC in 2008. He held various ministerial roles from 2008 to 2023, including Minister of Arts and Culture, and expanded his portfolio to include sports from 2019 to 2023.