The sudden death of South Africa’s Ambassador to France and former Minister of Police, Nathi Mthethwa, has shaken political and diplomatic circles, while sparking heated debates in both South Africa and Europe.
Mthethwa, who passed away this week in Paris, is mourned as a liberation stalwart and long-serving government figure. But the official circumstances around his death remain contested, with French authorities pointing to suicide while his family and supporters in South Africa suspect foul play.
The French prosecutor’s office in Paris confirmed that the ambassador’s body was discovered at a hotel which he booked 11 days before checking in. “Preliminary findings point to a possible case of suicide. However, further toxicological examinations and witness interviews are underway before a conclusive determination can be made,” French officials said in a statement.
The South African government has moved swiftly to respond. Police Minister Firoz Cachalia on Friday announced the deployment of a team of five seasoned SAPS detectives to France, led by Major General Bongani Maqhashalala. “The deployment of these investigators reflects our commitment to ensuring that every effort is made to establish the full facts surrounding this tragedy,” Cachalia said. “We will offer all necessary support to our counterparts in France and remain in close contact with DIRCO throughout the process.”
The African National Congress (ANC) also confirmed that its senior leadership will pay a homage visit to the Mthethwa family early next week. Party spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said: “Comrade Mthethwa dedicated his life to the struggle for freedom and later served our democratic state with loyalty. The ANC stands with his family during this painful time.”
Family disputes suicide theory
Within South Africa, Mthethwa’s family has voiced doubts over the official French narrative. Relatives have insisted that he had “no reason to take his own life” and have described his death as suspicious. “We suspect foul play,” one family member told journalists.
These suspicions have been fueled by Mthethwa’s recent appearance in the headlines back home. His name surfaced at the Madlanga Commission, where KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lt General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi testified about corruption within the police service. In his testimony, Mkhwanazi stated: “We were under pressure to channel resources and procurement deals towards certain politically connected individuals, including Mthethwa during his time as minister. It compromised policing integrity.”
The testimony, still under examination by the commission, placed Mthethwa at the center of renewed allegations of impropriety. His sudden death, just days later, has deepened speculation.
Citizens speculate: suicide or cover-up?
On the streets of Paris, South Africans living abroad expressed disbelief. Thandiwe Mbatha, a Johannesburg-born student in France, said: “It’s very hard to accept. He was representing our country abroad, and then suddenly this? If the French say suicide, I want to see real proof.”
In Durban, where Mthethwa maintained strong political ties, ordinary citizens were even more skeptical. “This looks like the Watson case all over again,” said taxi driver Sibusiso Mhlongo.
“First they told us Watson died in a crash, but many still believe he was hidden away so he would not face corruption charges. Now it’s Mthethwa—are we expected to believe he just gave up?”
Gavin Watson, the Bosasa executive and ANC associate, died in a car crash in 2019, days before he was due to testify at the Zondo Commission. Years later, theories persist that his death was staged. Some South Africans are drawing direct parallels with Mthethwa’s sudden demise, pointing to a pattern of political figures linked to corruption allegations dying under suspicious circumstances.
Political implications
Analysts say Mthethwa’s death will cast a long shadow over the Madlanga Commission and the ANC itself. While he was a respected cadre in the liberation movement, his later years were dogged by accusations of mismanagement and corruption during his tenure as Police Minister. The unfolding probe into his death now risks intertwining with the commission’s work.
A legal analyst who spoke to journalists without being named said: “If it turns out that Mthethwa was under severe pressure because of the commission and international scrutiny, then the suicide theory could carry weight. But if evidence emerges of foul play, this could suggest a deliberate effort to silence or protect powerful networks. Either way, his death changes the political landscape.”
For now, the South African Police Service team is preparing to join French investigators. Citizens, meanwhile, remain divided—some demanding transparency, others spinning theories of cover-ups and conspiracies.
What is clear is that Mthethwa’s passing, whether by suicide or otherwise, has reignited debates about accountability, political protection, and truth in South Africa’s democracy. Until the investigations conclude, the ambassador’s death will remain shrouded in suspicion, remembered not only as a personal tragedy but as a political storm with far-reaching consequences.
