Mahumapelo wants Mthethwa's death properly investigated to avoid speculation on how he died

KLEINMOND - Chairperson of Parliament’s international relations committee, Supra Mahumapelo, said the death of Ambassador Nathi Mthethwa must be properly investigated to avoid speculation about how he died.

Mthethwa’s body was found at a Paris hotel on Tuesday after checking into a room on the 22nd floor.

Mahumapelo said that he called Mthethwa’s wife after it was initially reported on Monday that he could not be traced.

Former North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo has recalled the early political activism years he shared with Mthethwa, to managing the political turbulence in the province together following the African National Congress (ANC)'s 2007 Polokwane conference.

"In the ANC, we are just taught to be selfless. So you strive to be selfless for the rest of your life. And this is what comrade Nathi was doing from the student movement into the ANC Youth League."

Mahumapelo said that Parliaments international relations committee was looking forward to working with Mthethwa to advance diplomatic and economic relations with France.

The committee had been planning to travel to the country following a recent visit by Deputy President Paul Mashatile.

"Our hope is that the French authorities working with the South African authorities investigate this matter to the fullest, so we don’t make speculations but rather get what is the actual cause of the death of former Ambassador Mthethwa."

Mthethwa had served as the country’s ambassador to France for less than two years after more than two decades as an MP and Cabinet minister.

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