MWE Correspondent
French authorities have opened an investigation into the death of South Africa’s ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa, who was discovered outside a high-rise hotel in Paris on Tuesday, September 30, 2025.
According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, the 58-year-old diplomat had been reported missing by his wife a day earlier after she received a troubling text message. Mthethwa had booked a room on the 22nd floor of the Hyatt Regency hotel, where investigators later found that a security-locked window had been forced open. His body was located in the hotel’s inner courtyard during the early hours of Tuesday morning.
In a statement, South Africa’s Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation described his passing as “untimely” and “deeply painful.” Minister Ronald Lamola said the ambassador’s death was not only a loss to the nation but also to the wider international diplomatic community.
Mthethwa was a prominent political figure in South Africa before joining the diplomatic corps. He served as Minister of Arts and Culture between 2014 and 2019, and later as Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture from 2019 until 2023. In February 2024, he was appointed ambassador to France and also served as his country’s permanent delegate to UNESCO.
During his tenure, he was known for advancing South Africa’s cultural diplomacy and strengthening ties between Pretoria and Paris. His sudden death has shocked colleagues across both continents, many of whom have paid tribute to his decades of public service.
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Early findings from French investigators revealed no signs of a physical struggle inside the hotel room. A pair of scissors was found near the forced window, and toxicology results are still pending. Prosecutors have not ruled out the possibility of suicide but say all lines of inquiry remain open.
Mthethwa’s wife told police she had received a final message from him on Monday night in which he apologized and expressed despair. It was this message that prompted her to alert authorities to his disappearance.
Tributes have continued to pour in from government officials, diplomats, and civil society. Many remember Mthethwa for his long career in government, while others have emphasized his role in representing South Africa’s voice abroad.
The incident has also raised questions about the pressures faced by diplomats, especially those stationed in high-profile postings. Observers note that the French inquiry will be closely watched in both Paris and Pretoria, as it seeks to establish the exact circumstances of the tragedy.
