South African Ambassador to France, Nkosinathi Emmanuel “Nathi” Mthethwa, tragically fell to his death from a 22-story luxury hotel in Paris, France, on Tuesday. The incident occurred following allegations of his involvement in a significant corruption investigation in South Africa. Mthethwa’s body was found at the base of the four-star Hyatt Hotel, located in the western part of the French capital, after his wife reported him missing on Monday afternoon.
Mthethwa’s wife had received a distressing message from him on Monday evening, which prompted her to alert the authorities. This led to an extensive search operation in the western Paris woods. The hotel room from which Mthethwa fell had a window that appeared to have been forced open. The room, located on a high floor with a view of the Eiffel Tower, typically costs $900 per night.
Mthethwa, a seasoned politician and member of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) party, had been serving as the ambassador to France since February 2024. Prior to this, he held government positions as Minister of Arts and Culture and Minister of Police.
Recently, Mthethwa’s name surfaced in the Madlanga Commission, a national South African investigation into pervasive corruption and collusion between politicians and the police, including alleged connections to organized crime. A former high-ranking police officer testified to the commission on Monday that a drug cartel had infiltrated every aspect of police and politics in South Africa.
The cartel, known as the “Big Five,” is suspected of involvement in a range of crimes, including contract killings, drug trafficking, hijackings, and fraud. Mthethwa was one of three police ministers accused of political interference during his tenure, according to reports from South Africa’s the Citizen newspaper. All three ministers hail from the KwaZulu-Natal region of South Africa, where political killings are commonplace.
Mthethwa was also expected to testify as a witness regarding alleged corruption and misconduct within the police force. He was accused of trying to persuade officials to dismiss charges against a former head of South Africa’s police crime intelligence agency, as per testimonies heard during the commission hearings.
The circumstances surrounding Mthethwa’s death are still under investigation. His last public appearance was at a ceremony at a military cemetery in northern France last Saturday, where he laid a wreath for a South African soldier who died in World War One.
The ANC has yet to release an official statement on Mthethwa’s death. However, international relations minister Ronald Lamola expressed his condolences, stating that Mthethwa’s passing is a loss not only for the nation but also for the international diplomatic community.