South Africa’s ambassador to France, Nkosinathi Emmanuel “Nathi” Mthethwa, has been found dead at a hotel in Paris.
French authorities confirmed on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, that the 58-year-old diplomat’s body was discovered at the foot of the Hyatt Hotel in the Porte Maillot district of western Paris.
The Paris prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into the circumstances of his death.
Mthethwa, who was appointed ambassador to France and permanent delegate to UNESCO in 2024, previously served in South Africa as Minister of Police and later as Minister of Arts and Culture, as well as Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture.
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Officials in Paris said it is not yet clear whether his death was accidental, self-inflicted, or the result of foul play.
Further details are expected as investigations continue.
The South African embassy in Paris and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) have not yet issued an official statement.