from NJABULO MKHIZE in Durban
KwaZulu Natal Bureau
DURBAN, (CAJ News) – FORMER South African Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa, who also served as Pretoria’s ambassador to France, has died at the age of 58 after a fall at a Paris hotel.
Authorities said he was found at the foot of a room on the 22nd floor of a Hyatt hotel, where a security window had reportedly been forced open.
Mthethwa, who served as Minister of Police from 2009 to 2014 under former President Jacob Zuma, was reported missing by his wife on Monday.
Paris prosecutors indicated he had made a “worrying phone call” prior to his disappearance but did not release further details.
French authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.
President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed condolences to Mthethwa’s family and highlighted his role in strengthening South Africa–France diplomatic relations.
The Department of International Relations and Co-operation confirmed that investigations are ongoing.
Mthethwa was a key Zuma ally and played a central role in South African policing and political affairs, including the 2012 Marikana miners’ incident and the closure of the Scorpions special investigations unit.
He was involved in navigating the political landscape that enabled Zuma to retain leadership positions within the ANC despite multiple corruption allegations.
His death comes amid heightened scrutiny of South Africa’s police leadership, following the suspension of Police Minister Senzo Mchunu over corruption and political interference allegations.
It remains unclear whether Mthethwa was due to testify before the judicial commission investigating these claims.
Mthethwa’s passing marks the end of a controversial and influential career in South African law enforcement and diplomacy, leaving a complex legacy intertwined with both political loyalty and national crises.
– CAJ News