Africa (Commonwealth Union) _ South Africa has dispatched a delegation of top researchers to Paris to assist the French authorities in investigating the mysterious death of Ambassador Nathi Mthethwa, whose body was discovered on Tuesday morning at the Hyatt Regency hotel.
The 58-year-old diplomat fell from the 22nd floor of the building into the hotel’s inner courtyard, according to French officials. His wife reported the man missing yesterday after he penned a disturbing letter apologizing and expressing his desire to commit suicide, according to prosecutors. While speculation about foul play has surfaced, initial evidence indicates suicide.
National police commissioner Fannie Masemola has assured that five senior South African officers will be working alongside their French counterparts to offer an open and comprehensive investigation. “This is not just about uncovering the truth, but also about providing the family and the nation with the assurance that no detail is overlooked,” he stated.
Mthethwa served decades-long and portfolio-changing careers, marked by both influence and controversy. A close friend of former president Jacob Zuma, he was repeatedly named in judicial commissions investigating corruption and politicking.
His tenure as police minister is best recollected with the 2012 Marikana massacre, where police killed 34 fired mine workers who were striking in what remains South Africa’s worst moment since apartheid.
Only weeks before his death, Mthethwa’s name re-emerged in testimony at the Madlanga Commission, which is investigating political interference in the police. KwaZulu-Natal commissioner Nhlanhla Mkwananzi had alleged that Mthethwa had interfered with justice when he was minister in 2011. It was unclear if the commission intended to call him in for questioning.
Despite all these controversies, Mthethwa had wide-ranging influence in the political circles of South Africa and went on to be awarded significant diplomatic posts, including his final posting as ambassador to France.
His death has been a shock to most people in the political and diplomatic communities. He was a complex person, a very influential leader who would often attract criticism but remained active in continuing efforts to shape the politics of South Africa.
The Mthethwa clan is waiting for the completion of diplomatic and legal processes before he can be repatriated back to South Africa. Meanwhile, the two nations are working together to unveil the final hours of his life so that issues about his death are answered in transparency and clarity.
