South African Ambassador to France Found Dead in Paris Hotel Fall

Emmanuel Nkosinathi Mthethwa, South Africa’s ambassador to France, was found dead on Tuesday after falling from the 22nd floor of the Hyatt Hotel at Porte Maillot in Paris. The 58-year-old diplomat had been reported missing a day earlier by his wife, who received a troubling message from him.

Police initially searched nearby woods fearing he may have taken his own life. Investigators say the secure hotel window had been forced open, suggesting he jumped. His phone was last traced near the Bois de Boulogne on Monday afternoon.

Mthethwa, a veteran politician and former cabinet minister, was appointed ambassador in 2023 and had also served as South Africa’s permanent delegate to UNESCO. He recently appeared at a memorial for the Battle of Delville Wood.

His death comes as he was named in an ongoing inquiry into corruption and political interference in South Africa’s police. Testimony alleged that he once pressured officials to protect a former crime intelligence chief facing charges. An official investigation into his death is underway.