The family of South Africa’s Ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa, who was found dead after allegedly falling from the 22nd floor of the Hyatt Regency hotel in Paris, says preparations to repatriate his body are underway.

Family spokesperson Khulekani Mthethwa said arrangements were progressing.

His comments come as ANC leaders visited the family at their KwaMbonambi, KwaZulu-Natal home on Thursday to offer their condolences. 

“We witness that everyone is in good spirits, and all the ANC leaders are coming in numbers in this time of grief, and to let us know what we should expect from now on,” he said.

Khulekani added that the family was in contact with relatives who travelled to France following the news.

“We are in contact with our in-laws, who were able to quickly travel to France,” he said. 

“We just spoke to him today, and he mentioned that everything is in preparation – by Monday or Tuesday, everything should be finalised.”

He expressed relief that the process had so far been smooth.

“We are glad to see that everything so far is going smoothly, and we are on the same page as a family.

“At the moment, we are not sure when to expect his return, and as per tradition, we still need to finalise who will be going to France to fetch Mthethwa’s spirit.”

French Prosecutor Laure Beccuau said in a statement that Mthethwa’s wife received a worrying message from him, “in which he apologised and expressed his intention to take his own life.”

The family has refuted suicide claims. 

“We are not accepting this,” Khulekani said. 

“My brother endured the worst the apartheid system could do to him. He was tortured. He never backed down. Why would a man like that choose to die now?”

According to Khulekani, the ambassador had shown no signs of despair or fear, despite recent links to testimony before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.

KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi said Mthethwa wanted to stop the prosecution of ex-national police crime intelligence head Lieutenant-General Richard Mdluli and stop the disciplinary case against the former top cop

“He was not afraid of facing the commission. He would have gone there and spoken for himself, as he always did.”

Concerns within the family have deepened upon learning that Mthethwa was travelling alone. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) confirmed he had no bodyguards at the time. 

“We need to understand why he had no protection,” Khulekani added. “It is too convenient.”

International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola confirmed the death and said French officials had launched a formal inquiry.

The ANC paid tribute to Mthethwa as a freedom fighter and disciplined public servant. President Cyril Ramaphosa described his death as a national tragedy and praised his work in strengthening ties between South Africa and France.

Mthethwa was married to Philisiwe Buthelezi, former CEO of the National Empowerment Fund and sister of former deputy finance minister Sfiso Buthelezi.

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

IOL Politics

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