The passing of South African Ambassador to France, Mr. Nkosinathi Emmanuel “Nathi” Mthethwa, has raised troubling questions that go far beyond a simple tragedy. Found deceased on Tuesday at the foot of the Hyatt Regency hotel in western Paris, the circumstances around his death remain deeply suspicious. According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, he was reported missing by his wife on Monday evening after receiving a worrying text message from him.
Stranger still, Mr. Mthethwa had booked a room on the 22nd floor of the hotel, where a secured window was found forced open. How was this window, meant to be secure, breached? And why? French authorities are investigating but have neither confirmed nor ruled out suicide, despite rumours circulating.
Adding a significant layer of complexity is Mr. Mthethwa’s recent mention in the high-profile Mkhwanazi hearing. This ongoing inquiry is probing alleged corruption and mismanagement within South Africa’s sports and culture sectors during his tenure as Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture from 2019 to 2023. Witnesses have testified about questionable financial dealings and contract irregularities linked to his office.
Before that, Mr. Mthethwa also served as Minister of Police from 2009 to 2011, a period marked by controversies surrounding police conduct and internal investigations. His time in this role, combined with the current inquiry, places him at the centre of several sensitive and potentially damaging investigations.
Could his death be connected to what was emerging in the Mkhwanazi hearing, or related to pressures from his earlier policing portfolio? The timing and circumstances certainly invite suspicion.
South Africa’s foreign affairs department confirmed his death, honouring him as a distinguished public servant. But with so many unanswered questions—the cryptic message to his wife, the forced window, and his involvement in these major investigations—the truth behind Mr. Mthethwa’s death remains elusive. Until the ongoing investigations conclude, speculation and suspicion will persist.
