Zola Hashatsi Claims Nathi Mthethwa Is Alive Almost a Year After His Death: “Ya’ll Don’t Respect Us”

• Actor and film producer Zola Hashatsi stunned Mzansi by claiming former minister Nathi Mthethwa is still alive
• Hashatsi's Instagram post came as French authorities reportedly concluded their investigation into Mthethwa's death as a suicide
• South African officials say they have not yet received the final investigative report from French authorities

Actor and film producer Zola Hashatsi has stirred up serious conversation online after claiming that former South African minister Nathi Mthethwa is still alive. Hashatsi took to Instagram on Monday, 24 August 2026, calling out ministers of Arts and Culture and making the bold suggestion that Mthethwa never died.

"We need to re-evaluate these ministers of Arts and Culture, my president @cyrilramaphosa @presidencyza. They are all useless. Yes NONKE. The fact that @nathimthethwa_sa is still alive is beyond me, ya'll don't respect us," Hashatsi wrote.

See Zola Hashatsi's original post that sparked the debate below:

What happened to Nathi Mthethwa?

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Mthethwa, who was 58 and serving as South Africa’s ambassador to France, died in Paris on Tuesday, 30 September 2025, after falling from the 22nd floor of the Hyatt Regency Hotel. French authorities have reportedly concluded their investigation and classified the death as suicide, although South African officials have said they are still awaiting the final report from their French counterparts and have sought additional information about the circumstances surrounding his death.

Security strategist and former Interpol ambassador Andy Mashaile has questioned how the investigation was conducted, particularly the absence of South African law enforcement officials from the inquiry. Speaking to eNCA, Mashaile said:

"If you say you have not received the final outcome, please – a simple analysis says we don't know what happened. You haven't told us what actually transpired."

He further noted that international bodies such as the FBI sometimes collaborate with local police during foreign investigations, warning that shutting South African authorities out risks undermining public confidence in the findings.

Mzansi Reacts to Hashatsi's Claim

The post drew a mixed bag of responses from social media users, with some joking and others genuinely questioning the official narrative around Mthethwa's death.

@charlieafrikka1 quipped:

"Probably living his best life in Paris 🙏"

@manelloe wrote:

"😂😂😂The lack of comments in here people are scared nkosi yami sizoboshwa."

@melusi.s.kubheka asked:

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"How do you know he is still alive?"

@iamthusoyaone_sekwe offered a longer take:

"...for the mere fact that we never saw his corpse and all other pertinent outstanding issues....I have safely concluded that the chap ain't dead, he's living a good life elsewhere... otherwise go argue with your curtains."

@van_lexi simply asked:

"Was there a funeral for him?"

With 327 days having passed since Mthethwa's death and no formal report delivered to South African authorities, the uncertainty continues to fuel speculation among the public.

Ntsiki Mazwai reacts to Nathi Mthethwa death probe

Meanwhile, Briefly News previously reported that Ntsiki Mazwai reacted after French authorities contradicted earlier media reports about Nathi Mthethwa's phone.

Mazwai's question left the public speculating, with others offering explanations for why Mthethwa visited the hotel.

Source: Briefly News