KZN Premier Ntuli pays tribute to ‘patriot’ Nathi Mthethwa at his funeral
The funeral service for the late Ambassador Nathi Mthethwa is under way at Dondotha in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, who will deliver the eulogy, declared last week that the funeral would be a Special Official Funeral Category 2 which includes ceremonial elements performed by the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Mthethwa, 58, died after falling from a 22nd-floor hotel room in Paris last week. French officials are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.
He was South Africa’s ambassador to France and was also a former minister of Police and Arts and Culture.
Speaking during the funeral on Sunday, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli said Mthethwa was devoted to his country and was a “patriot” and a “man deeply committed to the ideas of justice, peace and progress”.
“His journey from humble beginnings to serving our nation on the global stage is a story of dedication, discipline and patriotic service. His untimely passing comes at a difficult moment when our country and the world are navigating complex geopolitical shifts and economic uncertainities.
“It is in times such as this that we need seasoned leaders, diplomats, men and women of his calibre who understand that diplomacy is not only about statecraft but also about building bridges of trust, co-operation and opportunity.
“Nyambose’s legacy reminds us that the work of representing South Africa abroad is deeply connected to the task of building prosperity and peace at home. His departure leaves a void in our national family and provincial family but it also challenges us to nurture and empower a new generation of South Africans who will carry forward his vision of a more united, respected and economically vibrant nation,” said Ntuli.