South Africa’s Ambassador to France, Nkosinathi Emmanuel Mthethwa has been found dead at the foot of a high-rise hotel in Paris, hours after he was reportedly missing.
The 58-year-old envoy was “discovered directly below” a Hyatt Hotel in Paris.
According to Prosecutor’s Office Mthethwa, was found dead on Tuesday September 30, outside the Hyatt Regency hotel in West Paris, Prosecutor’s Office said.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, Mthethwa had been reported missing by wife on Monday September 29 evening after she received a text message from him that caused concern.
He had booked a room on the 22nd Floor of the hotel, where investigators found a secured window had been forced open.
Authorities said investigation is ongoing but decline to speculate on the outcome.
French media, including Le Parisien, reported that Mthethwa was believed to have taken his own life, though no official source was cited.
South Africa’s Foreign Department confirmed his death, stating that French authorities are investigating the circumstances.
“Ambassador Mthethwa was a distinguished servant of the nation, whose career was marked by dedicated service in critical ministerial portfolios”, describing his death as “a national loss”.
According the South African embassy’s website, Mthethwa previously served as Minister of Arts and Culture from 2014 to 2019 and later held the combined Portfolio of Arts, Culture and Sport from 2019-2023.
-9News Nigeria.
