African National Congress (ANC) NEC Member, Bathabile Dlamini says South Africa’s ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa, has died at a time when the country is facing serious challenges.

Dlamini is one of the mourners who have arrived at the Siyabonga Sangweni Sports Complex at Kwambonambi, KwaZulu-Natal, for Mthethwa’s funeral service.

Her comment comes as the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry and Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee investigate allegations, including criminal syndicates’ infiltration of the country’s justice system.

“Of course his passing, on a much more serious note, comes at a time when the ANC is facing a plethora of challenges particularly with regards to the serious allegations of wrongdoing that have been revealed in the Madlanga Commission as well as the Ad-Hoc committee, that is probing allegations of improper influence or conduct by some of the senior government leaders who also do come from the African National Congress,” says Dlamini.