In brief
Nathi Mthethwa, the South African ambassador to France, has been discovered dead near the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Paris. Missing for over 24 hours, Mthethwa was reported absent by his wife after sending a troubling message. Authorities are investigating the circumstances of his death, which remain unclear at this time.
South Africa's ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa, has been found dead near the four-star Hyatt Regency Hotel in Paris, French officials have told the BBC. Mthethwa, 58, was reported missing by his wife on Monday evening after a 'worrying message from him', the Paris prosecutor's office said. He had booked a room on the 22nd floor of the high-rise hotel, whose security window was forced open.The circumstances surrounding his death are unclear, and an investigation has been opened, with a duty magistrate sent to the scene.Mthethwa was a prominent figure within the African National Congress (ANC), the party that established democratic rule in South Africa in 1994. He had served as South Africa's ambassador to Paris since December 2023, previously holding positions including police minister and arts and culture minister. As a close ally of former President Jacob Zuma, he was named in the state capture inquiry, which scrutinized allegations of corruption during Zuma's presidency.In a statement, South Africa's Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola expressed that Mthethwa's passing represents a significant loss for the nation and the international diplomatic community. Lamola confirmed that the circumstances of Mthethwa's death are being investigated by the appropriate French authorities.
