Rev. Mo’hau Khumalo, a well-known social commentator and advocate for transformation, has condemned what he terms “global hypocrisy” in the treatment of Black lives, adding fuel to the fire of heated debate surrounding the unexplained death of Nkosinathi Emmanuel Mthethwa, South Africa’s ambassador to France. Tuesday, while speaking in Johannesburg, Khumalo characterised Mthethwa’s tragic death as “a painful reminder that the lives of Black diplomats, leaders, and ordinary citizens are still treated with indifference when tragedy strikes beyond African soil.”
Strange circumstances led to Mthethwa’s death last week at his Parisian home. South Africans and members of the expatriate community have voiced their disapproval and mistrust about the paucity of information surrounding his death, despite the fact that investigations are underway, according to French authorities.
According to Khumalo, “investigations to move at a snail’s pace or quietly fade away” after the death of a Black official under dubious circumstances occurs frequently. “Within hours, the entire world would be demanding answers if this were a Western diplomat found dead in Africa.”
Many are angry at what they see as the world’s unfair reaction to issues affecting African residents, and Khumalo’s comments are only the latest example. He stated that the media and international institutions continue to ignore incidents involving Africans in favour of those involving Westerners, and that Mthethwa’s case is an example of this bias.
The importance of Black lives should not be contingent on whether they align with global narratives, Khumalo underlined. “Despite the world’s eerie silence on the death of Ambassador Mthethwa, who represented South Africa with honour, his death has been met with calls for justice and equality.” There should be no public guesswork while French investigators are at the scene, according to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).
The South African government is “closely following developments” and is working with French officials to ensure openness, according to Clayson Monyela, a spokesperson for DIRCO. The South African government and the ambassador’s family should be fully informed. “We will communicate verified information once it is available,” Monyela said, adding that they are engaging with the necessary authorities.
A flood of tributes has been pouring in for Mthethwa, who was lauded for his diplomatic work and dedication to bolstering South Africa’s ties abroad. Lastly, Rev. Khumalo emphasised the importance of African governments standing up for what is right and demanding equality and responsibility on a global scale. “Until Africa takes a stand and demands respect, incidents like this will remain overlooked in history,” he stated.
