JOHANNESBURG, Sept 30 (The African Portal) – South Africa’s ambassador to France, Nkosinathi Emmanuel Mthethwa, a former cabinet minister and senior African National Congress (ANC) official, has died suddenly, the government said on Monday.
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) described Mthethwa, 57, as “a distinguished servant of the nation” whose career spanned senior ministerial portfolios, including Minister of Police and Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture.
“His lifelong commitment to public duty was further exemplified by his longstanding contribution to the African National Congress through its highest decision-making structures,” DIRCO said in a statement.
Appointed in December 2023 to head South Africa’s mission in Paris, Mthethwa had been tasked with strengthening bilateral ties with France. He previously served on the board of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Local Organising Committee.
“I have no doubt that his passing is not only a national loss but is also felt within the international diplomatic community,” International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola said.
DIRCO said French authorities are investigating the circumstances of his death.
“The Government of South Africa extends its deepest and most sincere condolences to the family of Ambassador Mthethwa, and to his friends and colleagues during this period of immense grief,” it said.
Anti-apartheid politics
Born on Jan. 23, 1967, Mthethwa served as Minister of Arts and Culture from 2014 to 2019, and as Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture from 2019 to 2023. He was Minister of Safety and Security between 2008 and 2009, later renamed Police.
He sat on the ANC’s National Executive Committee between 2007 and 2022 and was a Member of Parliament from 2002 until his diplomatic appointment in 2023.
Mthethwa was active in anti-apartheid politics from a young age, rising through the ANC Youth League, trade unions and underground structures of the ANC’s armed wing, uMkhonto We Sizwe. He was arrested during the apartheid regime’s 1989 state of emergency and later held leadership roles in the South African Youth Congress and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU).
He studied community development at the University of Natal and held additional certificates in mining engineering and leadership communication.
Mthethwa is survived by his wife and children.
“We honour his legacy of unwavering patriotism and service to our nation,” DIRCO said.
This story was written with additional files from the South African Government News Agency
