French Authorities Close Nathi Mthethwa Death Investigation, Confirming Cause of Death
The Paris Prosecutor’s Office has officially concluded its investigation into the tragic passing of former South African Minister and Ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa, bringing a definitive end to months of intense diplomatic and public speculation.
South Africa’s Justice Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, confirmed on Friday that French law enforcement agencies have wrapped up the probe.
The official findings fully align with the cause of death previously disclosed by the Mthethwa family, ruling the matter closed and allowing the late diplomat’s estate to be formally administered.
Mthethwa, 58, died on 30 September 2025 after falling from the 22nd floor of the Hyatt Regency Hotel in the Porte Maillot district of Paris.
Initial findings from the Paris Prosecutor’s Office revealed that Mthethwa had booked a room on the 22nd floor.
His wife had reported him missing the previous evening after receiving a worrying message in which he expressed an intention to end his life.
Investigators later discovered that a secured window in his hotel room had been forced open.
The French judicial police swiftly deduced that the ambassador had taken his own life, a conclusion that has now been formally finalized and communicated.
The circumstances surrounding Mthethwa’s death initially sparked widespread concern and intense theories in South Africa, leading to a fact-finding mission by the South African Police Service (SAPS) to ensure cross-border transparency.
Following the finalization of the French report, Minister Kubayi urged the public and media houses to show restraint.”Members of the public and the media must refrain from circulating unfounded information,” Kubayi stated on Friday.
“We must respect the dignity of the late Ambassador Mthethwa, as well as the Mthethwa family’s right to closure and privacy.”
Mthethwa was a prominent fixture in South African politics for over a decade.
He served under the African National Congress (ANC) banner as the Minister of Police from 2008 to 2014, before transitioning to lead the Ministry of Arts and Culture (later expanded to Sports, Arts, and Culture).
Mthethwa was appointed as South Africa’s Ambassador to France in late 2023 to strengthen critical bilateral relationships.
French Ambassador to South Africa, David Martinon, recently reiterated that diplomatic ties between the two nations remain robust, noting that France has already approved South Africa’s newly appointed successor ahead of upcoming state engagements.
