South African ambassador Nkosinathi Emmanuel Mthethwa was found dead outside a Paris hotel under suspicious circumstances. Picture credit: GCIS .
By Duncan Mnisi
South Africa – The shocking death South African Diplomat has left Paris baffled and authorities investigating.
Nkosinathi Emmanuel Mthethwa, South Africa’s Ambassador to France, was found dead outside a hotel in Paris on Tuesday morning.
On the evening before his death, Mthethwa sent a distress message to his wife around 9:30 pm, expressing fear and regret. “His apologies and his intention to end his life” were part of that message, according to media reports.
The next day at 11:10 am, a security guard found him dead outside the Hyatt Regency Paris Étoile, a hotel located about 3.5 kilometers from the South African embassy.
Authorities are now investigating whether the Diplomat’s death was a deliberate act or something more sinister.
The police have not yet confirmed if Mthethwa jumped from the hotel’s 22nd floor, but initial investigations suggest it could have been a planned act.
No signs of struggle or drug use have been found so far, fueling the suspicion that this could be a carefully staged incident.
The circumstances surrounding his death are under scrutiny, especially since his wife reported his disappearance a day earlier.
“He left our home to attend a cocktail party but later went to the hotel, where he had booked a room ten days earlier”, she said.
French investigators are also looking into whether Mthethwa had been under surveillance. It is believed that security cameras in the area could hold clues about his movements before he died.
Some reports suggest that the diplomat’s phone was last used at Bois de Boulogne, a large park in Paris, which could provide further evidence.
Mthethwa, was a well-known politician in South Africa. He had a long career, starting in the anti-Apartheid struggle and later holding important government roles.
He was the organizing secretary of the ANC Youth League in 1994 and joined the South African National Assembly in 2002.
In 2008, he became Minister of Safety and Security before moving to his diplomatic role in France.
His career was marked by public service and strong political influence.
Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi mentioned Mthethwa during his testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
Mthethwa held the position of Police Minister from May 11, 2009, to May 25, 2014.
Adding to the intrigue, KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner claimed that Mthethwa pressured Faith Radebe, the former Inspector-General of Intelligence, to drop a criminal case against Richard Mdluli.
Mdluli used to head Crime Intelligence and was accused of misusing the police’s secret fund for personal trips and using police safe houses for himself.
A detailed review of his phone records, security footage, and personal communications is underway to uncover what led to this tragic event.
This is a developing story as investigations continue.
