According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, Mthethwa’s wife reported him missing on Monday evening after receiving a troubling text message. Investigators later discovered that he had booked a room on the 22nd floor of the hotel, where a secured window had been forced open. While French media suggested suicide as the likely cause, officials stressed that the investigation was ongoing and no conclusions had yet been drawn.

South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation confirmed the diplomat’s death, describing it as “a national loss.” In a statement, the ministry praised him as “a distinguished servant of the nation, whose career was marked by dedicated service in critical ministerial portfolios.”

Before his appointment as ambassador to France, Mthethwa held several high-profile roles in South Africa’s cabinet. He served as Minister of Arts and Culture from 2014 to 2019, before his portfolio was expanded to include Sport from 2019 to 2023.

Mthethwa, widely regarded as a seasoned statesman and loyal public servant, had been representing South Africa in Paris at a time of growing diplomatic and cultural exchange between the two countries.

French authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.