South African envoy found dead in Paris

South Africa's ambassador to France, formerly a long-serving cabinet minister, was found dead on Tuesday outside a Paris hotel after the window of his room in the high rise building was forced open, prosecutors said.

Nkosinathi Emmanuel Nathi Mthethwa, 58, usually known as Nathi Mthethwa, had "reserved a room on the 22nd floor whose secured window had been forced open," the office of the Paris prosecutor told AFP.

The body of Mthethwa, a close associate of former South African president Jacob Zuma, was found "directly by the hotel", it added. A source close to the case, who asked not to be named, said the ambassador suffered from depression and his death could have been suicide.

An investigation has been opened. Mthethwa had been ambassador since December 2023.

In a statement released in Pretoria, South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola said he had "no doubt that his passing is not only a national loss but is also felt within the international diplomatic community"