South African ambassador and former minister Nathi Mthethwa was found dead on Tuesday. /CFP
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South Africa’s ambassador to France, Nkosinathi Emmanuel “Nathi” Mthethwa, died in Paris, South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) confirmed in a statement on Tuesday.
According to French media, Mthethwa’s wife reported him missing on Monday evening after receiving a text message that raised concern.
He was later found at the Hyatt Regency hotel, where he had checked into a room on the 22nd floor. Reports indicate that a secured window in the room had been forced open.
The Paris prosecutors’ office says an investigation was ongoing and it could not preempt its outcome.
Mthethwa was appointed ambassador to France in December 2023 after decades of public service. He previously served as Minister of Police and Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture, and was part of the Board of Directors for the 2010 FIFA World Cup Local Organizing Committee.
Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola described his passing as a loss not only for South Africa but also for the international diplomatic community.
The government hailed Mthethwa’s “unwavering patriotism and service to the nation.”
Mthethwa was 58.
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