PARIS (BN24) — Emmanuel Nkosinathi Mthethwa, South Africa’s ambassador to France, has died after falling from the 22nd floor of the Hyatt Hotel in Paris. His body was discovered early today following a day-long search, after the 58-year-old diplomat was reported missing by his wife the previous evening. Mthethwa, who had been staying at the hotel, was last seen in his room on the 22nd floor, where police later found that a secure window had been forced open.
The South African ambassador was last in contact with his wife, who received a worrying message from him late Monday evening, prompting her to report his disappearance. Following the alarming message, French police launched an extensive search for Mthethwa, initially focusing on the Bois de Boulogne, a large park in western Paris where his phone had last been traced. However, despite the deployment of dogs from the canine brigade, the search in the park proved unsuccessful.
Fearing the possibility of a suicide, police turned their attention to the Hyatt Hotel, where Mthethwa had checked into a room on the hotel’s 22nd floor. His body was discovered outside the hotel, near the Porte Maillot district, just a short distance from the hotel.
Mthethwa had been serving as South Africa’s ambassador to France since February 2024 and was also the country’s permanent delegate to UNESCO. In his final public appearance, Mthethwa participated in the 109th Anniversary of the Battle of Delville Wood in Longueval, France, on Saturday.
Before his diplomatic post in Paris, Mthethwa had a distinguished career in South Africa’s government. He served as the country’s Minister of Arts and Culture from May 2014 to 2019 and later as the Minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture between 2019 and 2023. Additionally, Mthethwa had been a prominent member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the African National Congress (ANC) from 2007 to 2022.
In the wake of his death, French police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fall, with the Brigade for the Suppression of Crimes Against Persons (BRDP) of the Paris judicial police leading the probe. The duty magistrate has also been dispatched to the scene. Investigators have reportedly questioned Mthethwa’s family members as part of the inquiry.
At the time of writing, neither South African nor French officials have commented publicly on the nature of the incident.
As investigations continue, tributes have poured in from colleagues and diplomats, who have expressed shock and sadness over the untimely death of the former government minister and esteemed diplomat. South African authorities have yet to make a formal statement on the cause of death, and questions remain about the circumstances surrounding his tragic fall.
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