South Africa’s Ambassador to France, Nkosinathi Emmanuel “Nathi” Mthethwa, was found dead at a hotel in Paris on Tuesday, after sending a message to his wife expressing an intention to take his own life, according to the Paris public prosecutor.
Mthethwa, 58, was appointed ambassador in 2023 and had been staying at the Hyatt hotel, where he had reserved a room on the 22nd floor approximately 10 days prior. He checked into the hotel at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, the same day he was last seen by his wife, who later reported him missing.
“Shortly after 9:30 p.m., his wife received a message in which he apologized and expressed his intention to end his life,” said Prosecutor Laure Beccuau in an official statement.
At approximately 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, a hotel security guard discovered Mthethwa’s body in the building’s courtyard.
According to the prosecutor, no signs of struggle were found at the scene. However, investigators observed that the window’s safety mechanism had been forced open, with a pair of scissors left nearby. There were no traces of drugs or narcotics detected.
While initial findings suggest that the death was self-inflicted, Beccuau emphasized that a full investigation is underway to gather all relevant evidence and fully understand the circumstances surrounding the incident.
