South African Ambassador to France Nkosinathi Emmanuel “Nathi” Mthethwa was found dead on Tuesday at the base of the four-star Hyatt Regency Hotel in western Paris, French authorities confirmed.
Mthethwa, 58, was reported missing by his wife on Monday evening after she received a “worrying message” from him. The Paris prosecutor’s office said the high-floor hotel room’s secure window had been forced open, and a duty magistrate was dispatched to the scene to investigate.
The circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear. French authorities are conducting a full inquiry, with members of the Judiciary Police at the hotel as part of ongoing investigations. Local media reports suggest Mthethwa may have taken his own life, though officials have not confirmed this.
Mthethwa, a senior member of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC), had served in several government posts, including Minister of Arts and Culture and Minister of Police, before being appointed ambassador to France in December 2023. He was implicated in the Madlanga Commission, a national inquiry investigating widespread corruption and alleged collusion between politicians, police officials, and organised crime, including the so-called “Big Five” cartel.
During his tenure as police minister, Mthethwa faced allegations of political interference in police operations, including attempts to influence charges against a former head of South Africa’s police crime intelligence agency. He was also listed as a potential witness in ongoing investigations into corruption and misconduct within the police.
Prime Minister Jacob Zuma’s ally, Mthethwa had been a prominent figure in the ANC for decades and was involved in high-level politics in the KwaZulu-Natal region, where politically motivated killings have previously occurred.
Mthethwa was last seen publicly on Saturday, attending a military ceremony in northern France where he laid a wreath for a South African soldier killed during World War One.
French authorities continue to investigate the exact circumstances, while South African officials coordinate with their Paris embassy to manage the situation.
One person was killed and nearly a dozen hurt in a new attack Riyadh's international airport on Sunday, Saudi ...
The 25th World Petroleum Council (WPC) Energy Congress began in Riyadh on Sunday (11 October), running from 11 to 15 October under the theme &ldquo...
The Kremlin on Monday rejected a 60-day ceasefire idea proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to...
The explosion at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday afternoon killed at least 12 people and injured a further 309, according to Saudi Arabia’s Civil Aviation Authority. The airport remains closed until further notice.
One person was killed and nearly a dozen hurt in a new attack Riyadh's international airport on Sunday, Saudi authorities reported, a day after a strike claimed by Yemen's Houthis that killed 13 people and wounded more than 300.
Yemen's Houthis renewed warning to airlines, airport workers, and travellers against using Saudi airports, saying the warning should be taken seriously and that the kingdom “bore responsibility for failed interceptions”, a day after an attack on Riyadh's international airport that killed 12 people.
The Houthi movement has escalated their attacks on Saudi Arabia, targeting the airport in Riyadh and other cities, killing more than a dozen people.
Ukraine is ready to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries if Moscow also halts strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday.
The Kremlin on Monday rejected a 60-day ceasefire idea proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to allow his country to hold presidential elections, saying it wanted an overall peace deal instead.
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 12 October 2026 with the top five natural disasters happening around the world.
The Houthi movement has escalated their attacks on Saudi Arabia, targeting the airport in Riyadh and other cities, killing more than a dozen people.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that Ukraine is ready to respect the energy ceasefire announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, but only if Russia does the same, saying Moscow has already violated the agreement.
China has announced sanctions against Belize’s foreign minister and Paraguay’s communications minister over their countries’ diplomatic ties with Taiwan. The move comes as Beijing continues to pressure the few remaining nations that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taipei.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment