The South African Ambassador in France, Nkosinathi Emmanuel Mthethwa, was found dead on Tuesday in Paris, as reported by the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation of the southern country, specifying that the French police are investigating the circumstances of the incident, reports EFE.
In a statement, the department announced "with deep sorrow the premature death" of Mthethwa, 58 years old, who was a former Minister of Police and of Sports, Arts, and Culture.
"The French authorities are investigating the circumstances of his premature death. The South African government expresses its sincere condolences to Ambassador Mthethwa's family, as well as to his friends and colleagues in this time of immense pain. He is survived by his wife and children," the official note stated.
In the statement, the South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, stated that "his passing not only represents a national loss but is also deeply felt in the international diplomatic community."
The South African government did not provide further details on the death, but French media reported that the ambassador had been missing since Monday afternoon and died after falling from the twenty-second floor of the Hyatt hotel in the Porte Maillot area in Paris.