President Cyril Ramaphosa has granted an official funeral for South Africa’s Ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa, who died last week in Paris after a fall from a hotel building.
Mthethwa, 58, was found at the base of the Hyatt Regency hotel in western Paris, having reportedly fallen from the 22nd floor. French authorities are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.
His remains are expected to arrive at OR Tambo International Airport on Friday, with burial scheduled for Sunday in his hometown of KwaMthethwa, KwaZulu-Natal.
National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola confirmed that South Africa has scaled down its investigative delegation to France from five officers to just one senior officer. The official will liaise directly with French investigators and receive updates on the case.
Masemola emphasized that the move aims to ensure transparency and cooperation between both nations. “The late ambassador represented South Africa and the president abroad. It is our duty to engage our counterparts and receive firsthand information,” he said.
He added that the officer’s mission is not to conduct a separate investigation but to gather and relay information directly from French authorities.
Masemola assured the public that the death of a national figure abroad — especially one serving the president — would be handled with the utmost seriousness. “We owe it to the family and the nation to show that we are proactive and that the process is being managed responsibly,” he stated.
Mthethwa, a former Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, served South Africa with distinction before his diplomatic posting to France. His sudden passing has sparked grief across the nation, with tributes pouring in from government officials and the public alike.