Family of SA Ambassador Nathi Mthethwa
The family of South Africa’s ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa, has firmly dismissed suggestions that his death was a suicide, insisting on a thorough investigation into what they describe as suspicious circumstances. The 58-year-old diplomat was found dead outside the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Paris on 30 September 2025, after reportedly falling from the 22nd floor. As French authorities probe the incident, noting a forced-open window in his room but no signs of struggle, the family’s call for answers echoes growing public speculation. This tragedy comes amid Mthethwa’s implication in the Madlanga Commission, where he was expected to respond to allegations of interfering in police matters. With tributes pouring in from President Cyril Ramaphosa and the ANC, the nation mourns a dedicated public servant while questions linger over his final hours.
The incident has sparked debates on diplomat safety abroad and the pressures of high-profile inquiries.
Mthethwa’s death has left a void in South African diplomacy, where he worked to strengthen ties with France. As details emerge, the family’s push for clarity highlights concerns over potential foul play, especially given his recent mention in a corruption probe. This case underscores the vulnerabilities faced by officials in sensitive roles, prompting calls for enhanced protections.
Family’s Strong Rejection of Suicide Narrative
The family said that Mthethwa, 58, had endured torture at the hands of the Apartheid police machinery and would never take his own life to avoid accountability for his alleged interference in the work of the police as revealed in the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
They have called for a full investigation by French police and South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperations into the circumstances leading to his death.
Speaking to the media at the Mthethwa’s home in KwaMbonambi, outside Empangeni in KwaZulu-Natal, his relative Khulekani Mthethwa, said the family was not buying the reports of a potential suicide, saying there were mysterious circumstances leading to the Ambassador’s death.
Khulekani said the family wanted to know where Mthethwa’s security detail was from the time he was missing until his death.
He said that Mthethwa was a brave man who ‘endured torture and all forms of brutality at the hands of the Apartheid police, therefore there was no way that he would taken his own life’.
“My brother would not have feared appearing in front of the Madlanga Commission to answer for any allegations against him. He was not a coward, as the family we dismiss any suggestion that he took his life to avoid going to the Commission. All we are calling for is a thorough investigation of the mysterious circumstances around his death, especially as had security,” said Khulekani.
He said that he had spoken to Mthethwa twice on Monday, however, he refused to divulge the details of their conversation.
The family’s stance draws on Mthethwa’s history of resilience, having survived apartheid-era torture without breaking. They argue this strength makes suicide unlikely, especially amid unproven commission claims. Their demand for a joint probe by French and South African officials reflects distrust in initial reports and a push for transparency.
Mysterious Circumstances Surrounding the Death in Paris
Mthethwa, a former Police and Sports, Arts and Culture Minister was found dead at the Hyatt Hotel in Porte Maillot in Paris on Tuesday after he went missing on Monday – he is believed to have died in tragic circumstances after falling from the 22nd floor of the hotel. French prosecutors are investigating, with reports indicating a sealed window in his room was forced open, but no signs of struggle were found.
He was reported missing by his wife after she received a worrying message from him. A security guard discovered his body in the hotel’s inner courtyard on Tuesday morning. The exact cause remains under probe, with some sources mentioning a possible suicide note, though unconfirmed.
The family’s questions about his security detail’s absence add to the mystery. As a diplomat, Mthethwa should have had protection, raising concerns about lapses. French officials have opened an inquiry, and South Africa’s foreign ministry is working closely with them.
Mthethwa’s Distinguished Career and Legacy
Mthethwa, who was born and raised in Klaarwater township, west of Durban, was appointed as an Ambassador to France in December 2023 after he was dropped as a Minister by President Cyril Ramaphosa in a cabinet reshuffle. At the time, he was the Sports, Arts and Culture Minister.
He served as Minister of Police from 2008 to 2014, then Arts and Culture from 2014, adding Sports in 2019 until 2023. As ambassador, he facilitated stronger ties between South Africa and France, including investment deals sealed during a recent visit by Deputy President Paul Mashatile.
A dedicated freedom fighter, Mthethwa contributed to the ANC’s growth and society’s development. His work on the 2010 FIFA World Cup board helped deliver a successful event that boosted the nation’s image.
Tributes Pour In from Leaders and Organisations
President Cyril Ramaphosa said that as ambassador, Mthethwa facilitated the deepening of relations between South Africa and France, producing benefits for people and businesses in both countries.
“The untimely passing of Ambassador Nathi Mthethwa is a moment of deep grief in which government and citizens stand beside the Mthethwa family,” said Ramaphosa.
The ANC described Mthethwa as a dedicated freedom fighter and public servant.
“Comrade Mthethwa was not merely a public official; he was a committed cadre of the liberation struggle and a dedicated servant of the people in our democratic era. His life was one of both struggle and service.”
The National Heritage Council mourned him as a champion of cultural preservation. Deputy President Paul Mashatile shared personal reflections, noting recent collaborations and Mthethwa’s role in key deals.
Connection to Madlanga Commission Allegations
Although the Madlanga commission had not yet confirmed whether he was on the list of those expected to give testimony, Mthethwa was expected to be given a right of reply after he was mentioned in testimony by KwaZulu-Natal provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
Mkhwanazi told the commission that during his tenure as an acting national Police Commissioner in 2011, Mthethwa in his capacity as a Police Minister attempted to block the prosecution of the then police Crime Intelligence head Lieutenant-General Richard Mdluli.
Mdluli was accused of abuse of state resources and corruption involving the Crime Intelligence Unit’s slush funds. According to Mkhwanazi, Mthethwa also ordered him to stop taking disciplinary action against Mdluli – Mkhwanazi described this as interference in the work of the police.
Mdluli and his co-accused pleaded not guilty during the start of their corruption trial in the Pretoria High Court in May.
Mdluli, together with the former South African Police Service (SAPS ) Supply Chain Manager Heine Barnard and Chief Financial Officer, Solomon Lazarus, are facing charges of corruption, fraud and theft relating to the police’s secret slush fund from the time they were employed by the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Crime Intelligence Unit, between 2008 and 2012.
The family’s dismissal of suicide links it to these claims, arguing Mthethwa’s bravery made him unafraid of testifying. Some online speculation ties his death to the commission, though unproven.
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