Under a cloud: South Africa’s ambassador to France Nathi Mthethwa died in Paris earlier this week. His body was allegedly discovered by a security guard at a hotel. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
The death of South Africa’s ambassador to France Nathi Mthethwa earlier this week is still shrouded in mystery, with the presidency and the department of international relations and cooperation largely mum on the issue, beyond brief initial statements.
Mthethwa’s family has expressed displeasure at how both the government and the ANC have handled the death of the ambassador, who was found dead at a hotel in Paris.
Mthethwa’s brother told public broadcaster SABC that the family had learned of his death through media reports, instead of official government channels.
“We have not been told in a respectful manner as a family; we just heard it on social media. No one came to tell us what happened and how it happened.
“Our father got a call from my brother-in-law that he [Mthethwa] was missing. He then got a call in the afternoon that he was dead,” he said.
“We hoped that the ANC, as the organisation he was working for, would have come to us and told us what happened. I think this should have gone to the national office, then informed us as the family, before it goes in the news.”
Citing the Paris prosecutor’s office, Reuters reported that Mthethwa had left a suicide note addressed to his wife. His body was discovered by a security guard on Tuesday morning in the interior courtyard of the hotel in western Paris, where he had booked a room on the 22nd floor.
It said Mthethwa’s wife had reported her husband missing to the police on Monday evening after receiving a message “in which he apologised and expressed his intention to end his life”.
The Paris prosecutor said the safety mechanism on the window in Mthethwa’s hotel room had been forced open with scissors — which were left at the scene — but investigators found no signs of a struggle or traces of medication or narcotics.
Initial investigations suggested that this might have been a deliberate act, without third-party intervention, it added.
Back home, the government has been largely silent. The department of international relations and cooperation confirmed the death but gave little detail, only saying that “the circumstances of his untimely death are under investigation by the French authorities”.
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office also gave little information beyond expressing his sadness at Mthethwa’s death at 58 in “tragic circumstances”.
“The untimely passing of ambassador Nathi Mthethwa is a moment of deep grief in which the government and citizens stand beside the Mthethwa family.
“Ambassador Mthethwa has served our nation in diverse capacities during a lifetime that has ended prematurely and traumatically,” Ramaphosa said.
Mthethwa was police minister from 2008 to 2014, when then president Jacob Zuma shifted him to the arts and culture portfolio, which was later expanded to include sports.
He was dropped from cabinet in 2023 and Ramaphosa appointed him ambassador to France in December that year.
“In his last tenure of service he has facilitated the deepening of relations between South and the Republic of France, which has produced benefits for individuals and businesses in both countries and advanced our cooperation in the global arena,” Ramaphosa wrote this week.
Notably, Mthethwa died before he could answer allegations made against him at the Madlanga commission of political interference during his time as police minister. He was also accused at the Zondo inquiry into state capture of being among those who looted crime intelligence funds for personal gain.
During his testimony at the Madlanga commission, KwaZulu-Natal police boss Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi alleged that in 2021 Mthethwa allegedly forced former inspector-general of intelligence Faith Radebe to withdraw the criminal case against former crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli.
Mdluli was accused of abusing the police’s secret slush fund between 2008 and 2012, including funding private trips and using police safe houses for personal use.
The case, according to Mkhwanazi, was never pursued but resurfaced to haunt Mdluli after he was arrested and charged with corruption last year by the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption on the same matter. The matter is currently on trial.
Mthethwa allegedly called Mkhwanazi to his official residence in Pretoria for a meeting with Radebe, indicating they would not pursue charges against Mdluli.
“If you talk about political interference, that was the worst I’ve ever experienced,” said Mkhwanazi.
During the Zondo inquiry, crime intelligence officer Dhanajaya Naidoo also testified that the crime intelligence’s secret service account funded the purchase of a Mercedes-Benz for Mthethwa in Durban in 2019.
Naidoo testified that Mthethwa only used the vehicle for a few months and asked that it be taken back to crime intelligence because he feared that he was being followed by journalists.
According to Naidoo, the car was eventually taken to Cape Town where it was used by Mdluli.
Naido also testified that just under R200 000 from the secret service account was used to erect a wall at Mthethwa’s KwaZulu-Natal home, an instruction allegedly given by Mdluli. Mthethwa instructed his lawyers to sue for defamation after the allegations surfaced.
This week, Activists and Citizens Forum spokesperson Dennis Bloem said it “very unfortunate and sad that ambassador Mthethwa must leave this earth with a cloud hanging over his head and did not have the opportunity to put his side of the story to the Madlanga Commission”.
“We hope that those who are still alive and know the truth about the Richard Mduli matter will come forward and clear the air,” Bloem said in a statement.
Mthethwa’s tenure as sports, arts and culture minister was also fraught with problems.
In 2021, South African artists and citizens launched a #NathiMustGo campaign, accusing him of neglecting the sector during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In 2022, he was called on to resign after he proposed that a giant flag, costing R22 million, should be erected at Freedom Park.
Forum for South Africa (Fosa) national leader Tebogo Mashilompane said Mthethwa has left no legacy to celebrate, with both that department and the police ministry left in disarray and weakened under his leadership.
“In the ministry of police, especially, his tenure was marked by interference in operations, as highlighted by Lieutenant-General Mkhwanazi.
“This undermined the fight against crime, weakened morale within the service, and left the institution in decay. South Africa continues to bear the consequences of his failed leadership,” Mashilompane said.
“Fosa believes that leaders must be held accountable for their record in office, even at the time of their passing. However, we also recognise the human side of loss.
“We extend our sincere condolences to his wife, family and loved ones during this difficult time.”