President Ramaphosa Grants Official Funeral to Ambassador Nathi Mthethwa
President Cyril Ramaphosa has reportedly accorded an official funeral to South African Ambassador to France and former Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, following his tragic death in Paris last week.
Mthethwa, 58, was found dead at the foot of the Hyatt Regency hotel in western Paris after reportedly falling from a 22nd-floor room. French authorities are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.
The late ambassador’s body is expected to arrive at OR Tambo International Airport on Friday, ahead of his burial on Sunday in his hometown of KwaMthethwa, KwaZulu-Natal.
Meanwhile, the South African Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed adjustments to the investigative team sent to France to liaise with local authorities. National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola said the initial delegation of five officers has been reduced to a single senior officer.
“With regard to sending a delegation to France, we are working on a police-to-police cooperation. We do have a senior officer that is working in that country,” Masemola said on the sidelines of the SAPS Safer Festive Season operations launch in Bloemfontein, Free State.
The senior officer departed the country on Tuesday to meet French counterparts, not to conduct a formal investigation, but to receive a report directly from French authorities.
“It’s unlike they will send you a report and leave it from here. We take it as very important that the late ambassador was representing South Africa in that country, and was representing the president of this country. When such incidents happen, it is our responsibility to make sure that we liaise with our counterparts,” Masemola explained.
He added that the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) was already involved, and the SAPS presence in France would be limited.
“We are just going there to receive a first-hand report. And, of course, ask questions and be taken through certain things. From there, we’ll be coming back to the problem. That was appropriate in my view,” he said.
Masemola stressed the importance of transparency and urgency when a South African citizen dies overseas, especially one serving as a national representative.
“A former minister of police – I think it was appropriate to take these steps to give the public and the family the assurance that we have been proactive. As far as I understand, it is fairly routine for police services in different jurisdictions to cooperate in such circumstances. And that’s all that has happened here,” he said.
Mthethwa’s death has been widely mourned across South Africa. As both an ambassador and former minister, he held a prominent role in public service, representing the nation abroad and advocating for the development of sports, arts, and culture at home.
With the official funeral now announced, families, colleagues, and government officials are preparing to honour Mthethwa’s legacy and contributions to South Africa. The investigation by French authorities continues, while South Africa monitors developments closely through its designated liaison officer.
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