The South African Ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa, has died after falling from the 22nd floor of a luxury hotel in Paris. French authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, which has shocked both France and South Africa.
Ambassador Found Near Hotel Terrace
Prosecutors confirmed that the body of Ambassador Mthethwa was discovered on Tuesday afternoon near the Hyatt hotel where he had been staying. According to French media, his hotel room window had been forcibly opened, raising further questions about the circumstances of his death.
“Disturbing Message” Sent Before Death
Local reports state that Mthethwa’s wife contacted police after receiving a “disturbing message” from him on Monday evening. This prompted a search operation, including police dogs deployed around Bois de Boulogne, a large forest in western Paris, where his phone had last been tracked.
Despite the search, his body was only recovered a day later. A magistrate has visited the scene, and a forensic report is pending. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of suicide but stress that investigations are ongoing.
A Prominent South African Political Figure
Mthethwa was a well-known political figure in South Africa. His career began as an ANC Youth League activist, later serving as Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Mining and Energy, Minister of Police, and Minister of Arts, Culture, and Sports under different administrations.
In early 2024, he was appointed as Ambassador to France and South Africa’s permanent representative to UNESCO.
Recent Similar Cases Raise Alarm
This tragedy comes just months after another shocking case, when a 19-year-old British tourist died in Ibiza after falling from the third floor of a hotel.
The South African government has yet to issue an official statement on the ambassador’s death.
