South African Ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa. Image credit: eNCA.
(The Post News)– The discovery that South Africa’s Ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa, had reserved the hotel room in Paris from where he fell about two weeks before he died has added to the mystery surrounding his untimely death. The South African government claims that the post-mortem results, which may be as early as Sunday, will decide the case’s next course of action.
French police had explained the booking processes to local media, according to Dr. Sifiso Buthelezi, a family spokesperson who is now in France with Mthethwa’s wife, Philisiwe Buthelezi. “He ended up postponing it to the 29th (Monday), and that is the day on which he disappeared,” said Dr. Buthelezi. “On the 29th indeed he came, he checked in.”
Mthethwa had booked the 22nd-floor room at the Hyatt Regency Paris Étoile as early as September 15th, according to French authorities. He later changed the check-in date to Monday, September 29th, the same evening he sent his wife a “disturbing message” expressing his intention to commit suicide and apologizing.
Repatriation and Investigation Timeline
The Mthethwa family has been assured that repatriating the deceased ambassador’s body is the first priority by South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).
Leading a visit to the Mthethwa family home in KwaZulu-Natal, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Alvin Botes stated that the government would refrain from speculating on the cause of death until the official French investigation was over.
“We, with the family, have agreed on two important issues: bring Ambassador Nathi Mthethwa home… and thereafter dissect the outcomes of the final investigation report,” Botes said. He affirmed that Sunday is the anticipated completion date of the post-mortem, which will be crucial to the case.
ANC officials said that the repatriation procedure is anticipated to proceed quickly when the French authorities complete their assessment. Government and ANC leaders, including the party’s provincial leadership in KwaZulu-Natal, have been visiting the family home to provide support. It is anticipated that repatriation will occur next week.
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