The sudden death of Nkosinathi Emmanuel Mthethwa, 58, a former minister and prominent African National Congress (ANC) figure, has sent shockwaves through South African and French authorities. His lifeless body was discovered on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, outside the Hyatt Regency Hotel in the 17th arrondissement of Paris.
According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, Mthethwa fell from the 22nd floor, where a security window had been forced open.
Mthethwa’s wife reported him missing the previous day after receiving a “disturbing message” from him. Investigators noted that his phone last registered activity near the Bois de Boulogne around 3 p.m. on Monday.
The case is under investigation by the Brigade for the Suppression of Crimes Against Persons (BRDP).
The South African government paid tribute to Mthethwa, praising his “unwavering patriotism and service to the nation.” Yet, his sudden death raises questions about the pressures he faced in recent weeks amid the resurfacing of accusations from his tenure at the Ministry of Police.
Born on 23 January 1967 in Natal, Mthethwa began his political activism at age 15 in the anti-apartheid trade union movement. He joined the ANC’s underground Operation Vula in 1988 and was detained during the 1989 state of emergency, strengthening his resolve to fight for democracy.
After apartheid, he rose through the ranks of the ANC Youth League and entered the National Assembly in 2002, later serving as Minister of Safety and Security, Minister of Police, Minister of Arts and Culture, and Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture.
Mthethwa’s career was not without controversy. Most recently, during testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi accused him of exerting political pressure to drop charges against Richard Mdluli, former head of Criminal Intelligence.
“If you’re talking about political interference, it was the worst I’ve ever experienced,” Mkhwanazi testified.
He had also faced public criticism for a 22-million rand project to erect a 100-meter flagpole in Freedom Park, Pretoria, viewed by many as an extravagant and unnecessary expenditure.
Appointed South African ambassador to France in December 2023, Mthethwa’s term was brief, ending amid renewed scrutiny from the Madlanga Commission. His death leaves many unanswered questions about the pressures he faced and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Mthethwa leaves behind a wife and children and a legacy as an anti-apartheid activist whose career reflected both the achievements and the contradictions of South Africa’s post-apartheid political landscape.
About The Author
