South Africa is mourning the sudden death of its ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa, after he was found lifeless in a Paris hotel room on Monday. French prosecutors have opened an inquiry, with early findings pointing to no signs of foul play.
According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, Mthethwa’s wife alerted police after receiving a troubling message in which he apologized and indicated his intention to take his own life. When officers entered his hotel room, they discovered that the window’s safety mechanism had been forced open with scissors, which were left at the scene. Investigators confirmed there were no signs of a struggle or traces of narcotics or medication.
“Initial investigations suggest that this may have been a deliberate act, without third-party intervention,” authorities said in a statement.
South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) later confirmed the ambassador’s death, describing Mthethwa as “a distinguished servant of the nation, whose career was marked by dedicated service in critical ministerial portfolios.” The department called his passing “a national loss.”
Mthethwa had a long political career before assuming his diplomatic post. According to the South African embassy in Paris, he served as Minister of Arts and Culture from 2014 to 2019, before taking charge of the expanded portfolio of Sport, Arts, and Culture until 2023. He was widely regarded as a key figure in shaping South Africa’s cultural policies over the past decade.
French authorities are continuing their investigation into the circumstances of his death. DIRCO said further updates would be provided once official findings are available.
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