French authorities have formally concluded their investigation into the death of former South African minister and ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa, bringing the long-running inquiry to an official close.
Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi confirmed on 18 September 2026 that the Paris Prosecutor’s Office had finalised the matter. According to Kubayi, the official finding by French authorities reaffirms the cause of death previously communicated by Mthethwa’s family.
Mthethwa, 58, died in Paris on 30 September 2025 after his body was discovered in the courtyard of the Hyatt Regency Paris Étoile hotel. French prosecutors had earlier said he had booked a room on the 22nd floor and that the window’s safety mechanism had been forced open. Investigators initially reported finding no signs of a struggle or traces of medication or narcotics.
His wife had reported him missing after receiving a message in which he expressed an intention to end his life, according to the Paris prosecutor’s office.
Mthethwa previously served as South Africa’s police minister and minister of arts and culture before becoming ambassador to France in 2023.
Kubayi said the closure of the French investigation allows the administration and finalisation of Mthethwa’s estate to proceed.
She also urged the public and media to avoid spreading unverified claims, stressing the importance of respecting Mthethwa’s dignity and his family’s privacy and right to closure.
