South African Ambassador Plunges to His Death at Paris Hotel

Mthethwa’s phone last rang at 3:00 p.m. local time on Monday near the public park Bois de Boulogne in Paris, sparking a search by police and dogs in the area and in the woods in western Paris, per Le Parisien.

A spokesperson at South Africa's foreign affairs department said in a statement to Reuters that they were "aware of unfortunate reports pertaining to Ambassador Nathi Mthethwa” and would be addressing it at a later notice.

The Brigade for the Suppression of Crimes Against Persons (BRDP) of the Paris judicial police is investigating the incident and a duty magistrate “is going to the scene,” Le Parisien reported on Tuesday.

PEOPLE has reached out to the Hyatt Hotel, South Africa's foreign affairs department and the prosecutor's office for comment.

Mthethwa’s last public appearance was at the 109th Anniversary of the Battle of Delville Wood in Longueval on Saturday, Sept. 27, the Daily Mail reported.

Mthethwa joined the French Embassy in February 2024. His career rose in 1994, when he became organizing secretary of the ANC Youth League, and he later joined the South African National Assembly, serving on the parliamentary committee from 2002 to 2008, per Le Parisien.

The diplomat became the Minister of Safety and Security in the Motlanthe government in 2008, before becoming Minister of Arts and Culture from 2019 to 2023.

Don't blame me.

Me either!

Gay?

Whoops.

Les Messieurs du Bois de Boulogne

He was murdered.

He was undergoing a corruption investigation, and his wife says he was despondent. Plus he left a suicide note. I doubt it was anything other than suicide.

Was the note in Russian, r8?

Someone asked him for the fifty MILLIONTH time how to pronounce his last name, and he just couldn’t take it any longer.

Don’t mess with Israel.

He looks corrupt. And faggoty.

That upper lip is sexy. Poor fellow.

I wonder if Foxcon could make money showing other tall building owners the logistics of installing nets under windows to prevent “fall” hazards.

He had the BEST job any South African could have. And he couldn't be happy.

I'm available if they need a replacement

I can't wait for Whoopi to pronounce the name Mthethwa on 'The View' ! Laughs galore...

Sunny, on the other hand, will say he's a dear friend of hers and Ana will say she had just invited him to her house for Christmas.

Thee you on the thee-thaw, Mthethwa!

Mill penny?

Hey Nkosinathi! Haven't you heard?

This is not St. Petersburg!

There’s a piece of racism in me that doesn’t believe anyone would take time or energy to create or use that many consonants. His mother would need a cigarette break before shouting his full name the THIRD time.

My conspiracy theory; They flicked a cat’s tail across the keyboard to create his first and last name.

Any Russians spotted nearby.

Hard to tell if he was afraid of going to prison, or if someone silenced him before he could send them there.

I've stayed at that hotel a few times. Incredible breakfast.

Really, R23?

Lol.

Il y avait quoi sur son iPod ?

Goddamnit R10, you’re making me laugh guilty laughter.