'Worst political interference’: Nathi Mthethwa dead in Paris days after Mkhwanazi testimony

A week after former national police minister Nathi Mthethwa was fingered in the Madlanga Commission, he was found dead outside a hotel in Paris. 

Mthethwa, the country's ambassador to France, was discovered at the foot of the Hyatt Regency hotel in western Paris, reportedly having fallen from the 22nd floor.

According to various reports, on Monday evening, his wife received a worrying message from him, "in which he apologised and expressed his intention to take his own life," Paris Prosecutor Laure Beccuau said in a statement. 

French authorities are investigating the circumstances leading up to his death. 

A week ago, on September 19, 2025, Mthethwa's name was revealed during the Madlanga Commission.

KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi laid bare details of political interference by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and at least two of his predecessors, Nathi Mthethwa and Bheki Cele.

Mkhwanazi told the judicial commission of inquiry into criminality, political interference, and corruption in the criminal justice system, chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, that political interference was at its worst when he acted as national police commissioner between October 2011 and June 2012.

Mthethwa served as the Minister of Police from May 11, 2009, until May 25, 2014. 

Mkhwanazi said Mthethwa wanted to stop the prosecution of ex-national police crime intelligence head Lieutenant-General Richard Mdluli and stop the disciplinary case against the former top cop.

"If you talk about political interference, that was the worst that I ever experienced. At that time, I came from the specialised operations; the only thing I knew was to chase criminals.

"I am promoted to become the acting national commissioner, and I am confronted with this in front of me, and I say, but this is not what I signed up for when I joined the police. This can’t be right," Mkhwanazi explained.

Mthethwa has served in many government portfolios over the years, he was the Minister of Arts and Culture and then the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture from 2019 until 2023. 

Mthethwa was appointed as South Africa’s head of mission to France in December 2023.

Meanwhile, messages of condolences have been streaming in for Mthethwa. 

In a statement from the Presidency, Ramaphosa described Mthethwa’s death as “a moment of deep grief” for the nation.

According to The Hyatt Regency hotel, it is Paris's highest Skyscraper hotel that has views of monuments, including the Eiffel Tower. 

It comes at a price tag of around R10,300 per night for a room. 

 IOL News