The family of former police and sport, arts and culture minister Nathi Mthethwa has expressed frustration at how news of his death was communicated, saying they learnt of it largely through social media and television.
Speaking to SABC News, the family spokesperson, Mthethwa’s brother Khulekani Mthethwa, said the family was not told in a “correct and respectable way”.
“The truth is we didn’t get communication in a correct and respectable way as the Mthethwa family,” he said. “We also found out on social media and TV and the day even ended yesterday without anyone coming to give us any communication on what had happened,” he said.
Khulekani said Mthethwa’s father, however, received a call from another relative who first told the family about the former minister’s disappearance.
Later that evening, the same family member informed them that Mthethwa’s body had been found.
The department of international relations and co-operation (Dirco) confirmed on Tuesday that Mthethwa, who was serving as South Africa’s ambassador to France, had died.
His death followed speculation in French media that he had fallen from a building in Paris on Monday in what is believed to have been a suicide. He had been reported missing on Tuesday morning.
French reports indicated that Mthethwa disappeared around 3pm on Monday. It was believed his wife reported his disappearance to the police days before confirmation of his death.
His body was reportedly discovered on Tuesday morning, with his phone last traced to the vicinity of the Bois de Boulogne in Paris.
Khulekani said the family expected better communication from the ANC, a party his brother had served for most of his life.
“The ANC was a party he had been working for from his youth, [so] we were expecting that after the news they would explain to us what happened and when,” he said.
Mthethwa was appointed ambassador in December 2023 and had been tasked with strengthening ties between South Africa and France.
Before his diplomatic role, he served as minister of police and later as minister of sports, arts and culture under former president Jacob Zuma and President Cyril Ramaphosa.
“When the information arrived, it should have been to the national office. Then, before getting the information to the media, they should have told us, the family here, about the circumstances behind this,” he said.
He said it was upsetting to get the news from “other people, as if he wasn’t family”.
Khulekani said that while the family does not place blame, they hope the party will reach out to them directly.
“We don’t blame anyone because in South Africa these things happen the way that this happened. We wish that his party, that he loved and worked for, would get in touch with us and update us on what happened because obviously some things we cannot speak on now,” he said.
Khulekani said the family was awaiting communication from the ANC and the government about when Mthethwa’s body will be repatriated to South Africa so that funeral arrangements can be made.
Dirco has confirmed that French authorities are investigating the death.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.