Shock in Paris: South Africa’s Ambassador to France Found Dead at Luxury Hotel

Paris was thrown into shock on Tuesday after the sudden and tragic death of South Africa’s Ambassador to France, Nkosinathi Emmanuel “Nathi” Mthethwa, who was discovered lifeless at the base of the Hyatt Regency Hotel in the French capital, just hours after being reported missing.

According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, the 58-year-old diplomat was found “directly below” the high-rise hotel where he had checked into a room on the 22nd floor. Investigators revealed that the window in his suite — a secure fixture not easily opened — had been “forced open,” raising immediate questions about the circumstances surrounding his fall.

Mthethwa’s wife had sounded the alarm a day earlier, informing authorities that she had received a “disturbing message” from him before his disappearance. Her report set off a search that ended tragically on Tuesday morning.

French prosecutors confirmed that a duty magistrate rushed to the scene and an inquiry has been opened into the ambassador’s death. While officials have not yet ruled out foul play, the unusual state of the hotel room has fueled speculation within both French and South African diplomatic circles.

The South African Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation expressed “deep sorrow and profound regret” over the envoy’s passing, describing him as a patriot who carried his country’s voice with distinction.

Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola, paying tribute in a statement, said:

> “I have no doubt that his passing is not only a national loss, but is also deeply felt within the international diplomatic community.”
Mthethwa, a seasoned statesman and former cabinet minister, was only appointed ambassador to France in December 2023, a role in which he was widely expected to strengthen South Africa’s ties with Paris and the broader European Union.

CNN reported that repeated attempts to reach the Hyatt Regency and the Hyatt Group for comment had gone unanswered by press time.

As tributes continue to pour in from across the world, questions remain over the final hours of Ambassador Mthethwa’s life. French investigators are working closely with South African authorities to uncover whether his death was an accident, a cry for help, or something more sinister.