South Africa’s ambassador to France, Nkosinathi Emmanuel “Nathi” Mthethwa, has been found dead outside a high-rise hotel in Paris, French prosecutors confirmed on Tuesday.
The 58-year-old diplomat was discovered at the foot of the Hyatt Hotel, where he had booked a room on the 22nd floor. Investigators said the secure window in his room appeared to have been forced open, and a duty magistrate was dispatched to the scene.
Mthethwa’s wife had reported him missing a day earlier after receiving what authorities described as a “disturbing message” from him.
South Africa’s Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation confirmed his death “with deep sorrow and profound regret,” extending condolences to his family.
Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola said Mthethwa’s passing was “not only a national loss but also felt within the international diplomatic community.”
Mthethwa, a former cabinet minister, was appointed ambassador to France in December 2023.
The circumstances surrounding his death remain under investigation.
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