Senior SAPS Officer to Meet French Investigators Over Nathi Mthethwa's Death

The late South Africa's Ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa.

By Mpho Dube, Editor-in-Chief of The Azanian

A senior South African Police Service (SAPS) officer is set to leave for France to meet with investigators probing the death of South Africa's Ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa.

The 58-year-old diplomat died under unclear circumstances after falling from the 22nd floor of a Paris hotel last week.

National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola announced that the officer would be working on police-to-police cooperation with French authorities to receive a report on Mthethwa's death. Initially, it was reported that five senior detectives would be sent to France, but Masemola clarified that only one senior officer would be heading to France.

Mthethwa's body is expected to arrive in South Africa on Friday, with the family likely to hold his funeral this weekend at his home in northern KwaZulu-Natal. The family has been seeking clarity and answers surrounding his death, with French authorities investigating the circumstances.

A preliminary probe by French authorities suggests Mthethwa may have taken his own life, but the investigation is ongoing. The South African government has deployed a team of investigators to France to work closely with French authorities and support the family's quest for truth.

Mthethwa's family spokesperson, Dr. Sifiso Buthelezi, expressed the family's desire for a thorough and transparent investigation. "We would like to thank the government for this initiative, and we understand that the investigative team has traveled to France to collaborate with French investigators. We hope that, with a team of diverse skills, the outcome will be as expected: the truth, nothing more."

The family also faces the emotional weight of their loss, particularly Mthethwa's widow, and is seeking closure. As the investigation continues, the international community watches with bated breath, hoping for a resolution that brings clarity and justice to the family and loved ones of the deceased.