SAPS Deploys Single Senior Officer to Liaise With French Authorities About Nathi Mthethwa’s Death
- General Fannie Masemola provided an update about the team of seasoned officers who were due to travel to France
- Masemola confirmed that a police officer will be liaising with French authorities about Nathi Mthethwa's death
- The South African Police Service (SAPS) team were due to conduct their own investigations in France
Source: Getty Images
Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent 10 years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.
GAUTENG – The five seasoned officers who were due to fly to France to assist in investigating Nkosinathi “Nathi” Mthethwa’s death have now been replaced by one officer.
General Fannie Masemola confirmed that a senior officer would be deployed to liaise with French counterparts. The National Police Commissioner confirmed the news on Tuesday, 7 October 2025.
A team of seasoned officers from South Africa were supposed to fly out to France on Saturday, 4 October 2025, to assist in investigations following the former ambassador’s death. The South African Ambassador to France was found dead on Tuesday, 30 September 2025, after reportedly falling from a 22nd-floor hotel room in Paris.
Senior officer to be deployed to France
Speaking at the police’s Safer Festive Season operations launch in Bloemfontein, Free State, the National Police Commissioner said they were working on a police-to-police cooperation.
“We reduced our delegation. We have one senior officer who will be meeting our counterparts in France,” he said.
He also confirmed that the officer would be departing on 7 October and would provide updates once he is in the country.
Source: Getty Images
South African officer will not be conducting an investigation
Masemola also stated that the officer would not be conducting a formal investigation, but rather would be receiving a report directly from the French authorities.
Masemola added that the presence of the South African Police Service (SAPS) would be limited in Frances as the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) was already involved.
“We are just going there to receive a first-hand report. And, of course, ask questions and be taken through certain things,” he said.
The new plan is a departure from the original idea, which was to send a team of five led by Major General Maqhashalala, Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Crime Detection in the Western Cape.
The team were due to conduct its own investigations to determine what exactly happened to Mthethwa. Repatriation efforts were only set to begin once the South African police arrived in France and concluded their work, but that is no longer the case.
What you need to know about the situation surrounding Mthethwa’s death
- The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) confirmed Mthethwa’s passing.
- Mthethwa’s name was recently mentioned in Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi's testimony at the Madlanga Commission.
- French authorities were combing through CCTV footage from the hotel where Mthethwa’s body was found.
- Mthethwa’s wife shared details about the final message she received from her husband that sparked the search for him.
- French authorities revealed more details concerning Mthethwa’s death, including what was found in his hotel room.
Mthethwa’s remains released ahead of repatriation
Briefly News reported that Mthethwa’s family provided details about when his remains will be repatriated.
Mthethwa’s brother-in-law, Dr Sfiso Buthelezi, confirmed that authorities had concluded the post-mortem.
Dr Buthelezi also shared his traumatic experience of having to see the former Ambassador's remains in the mortuary.
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Source: Briefly News
