Nathi Mthethwa: Facebook Post Claiming to Show Ambassador Falling From Hotel Confirmed to Be Fake
- Africa Check investigated a Facebook post claiming to show Nkosinathi “Nathi” Mthethwa falling from a Paris hotel
- The viral post claimed to have a video of the South African Ambassador to France falling from the 22nd floor
- The former Minister of Police was found dead on Tuesday, 30 September 2025, a day after his wife reported him missing
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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.
A Facebook post claiming to contain a video of Nkosinathi “Nathi” Mthethwa falling from the 22nd floor of a Paris hotel has been confirmed to be fake.
The post, shared across several Facebook pages, has since gone viral, racking up hundreds of thousands of views. The post was shared a few days after the death of the South African Ambassador to France.
Mthethwa was found dead on Tuesday, 30 September 2025, a day after he was reported missing. His body was found in the inner courtyard of the Hyatt Regency Etoile Hotel.
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Authorities suspect that he fell from a window of his room on the 22nd floor.
Viral video debunked by Africa Check
With the video racking up so many views, Africa Check, a renowned fact-checking site, investigated the claims.
The post claimed to provide “original footage” of Mthethwa’s fall, and featured a photo of the former South African Minister of Police, and a screenshot of someone seemingly falling from a building. It also included a link to the supposed video.
Africa Check found that the screenshots were not connected to Mthethwa’s death, and the link did not lead to a video. A reverse image search of the video thumbnail reveals that it was from a story in Qinyang in China’s Henan province.
In that story, a 19-year-old student fell to his death from the roof of a high-rise building. He fell after a part of the structure beneath him collapsed, according to the media reports.
Source: Facebook
The fact-checking site also advised readers to check whether images and videos come from credible, verified sources before they share them.
With mystery still surrounding Mthethwa’s death, many clamour to click on any article which could shed more light on what happened. Mthethwa was laid to rest in KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday, 12 October 2025, but investigations into his actual cause of death continue in France and South Africa.
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 family in South Africa shared how they found out about his tragic passing in Paris.
- 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 provided more details about Mthethwa’s death, including information about what was found in the room.
Chaos erupts at Mthethwa’s funeral
Briefly News also reported that chaos erupted at Mthethwa’s funeral as mourners squabbled over the food.
Video from the funeral showed mourners rushing to collect food and drinks, causing a social media stir.
The viral moment sparked divided reactions online, with some calling it shameful and others saying it revealed the reality of hunger.
Source: Briefly News
