By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The family of South Africa’s ambassador to France Nathi Mthethwa has confirmed that his remains will be repatriated on Thursday.
Mthethwa, who was 58, was found dead outside the Hyatt Regency hotel in Paris on Tuesday, 30 September.
Fullview understands the family has received the papers in order for the remains to be returned to South Africa.
Mthethwa’s autopsy report was expected on Today or Tuesday.
Family spokesperson and brother-in-law, Dr Sfiso Buthelezi in France, indicated that on Monday or latest on Tuesday, the French authorities will finish their processes, and they can hand the body over to the family. Then they can start the process of repatriating the remains back home.
It has also emerged earlier today that Mthethwa’s phone was not located in a park near the Hyatt Regency Hotel, contradicting earlier reports that sparked speculation about suicide or foul play.
Fullview also understands the preliminary information and hotel footage suggest there was no foul play, with only Mthethwa seen entering the room.
Mthethwa visited the Delville Wood, a national memorial dedicated to all South Africans who served in all theatres of war. He expressed at the ceremony that he was distressed about the spirits of the soldiers who lay there that were never fetched and returned to their families.
Speaking from Mthethwa’s home in Kwambonambi in KZN on Monday morning, his brother-in-law, Khulekani Buthelezi, expressed the family’s desire for a thorough and transparent investigation.
Buthelezi added the family is hopeful that by the weekend, all those processes would have been concluded for Mthethwa to be laid to rest this coming weekend.
Meanwhile South Africa’s plan to send a high level delegation of investigators to France to assist with the investigation has hit a snag.
Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has called for an urgent meeting with senior members of the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Kubayi wants deployment of South African Police Service (SAPS) investigators expedited.
On Friday, Police Minister Firoz Cachalia, said a team of investigators will be sent to France to assist police there with the probe.
The meeting aims to clarify a formal request for assistance to assist and to ensure the investigation is transparent and thorough.
Mthethwa began serving as South Africa’s envoy to France in December 2023 – his latest role in a series of high-profile portfolios that included stints as police minister, as well as the minister of sports, arts and culture.
As a young man, he campaigned against apartheid, a racist policy that kept Blacks and Whites apart, and grew through the ranks of the African National Congress (ANC) party, which fought for democratic rule in South Africa.