Ambassador Nathi Mthethwa to be laid to rest

President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the eulogy at the funeral service of the late Ambassador Nathi Mthethwa on Sunday.

“President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Sunday, 12 October 2025 deliver the eulogy in honour of the late Ambassador Emmanuel Nkosinathi “Nathi” Mthethwa in KwaMbonambi, KwaZulu-Natal,” said the Presidency in an advisory on Friday.

The funeral service will take place at Dondotha Stadium.

The late Ambassador to France will be honoured with a Special Official Funeral Category 2.

The Special Official Funeral Category 2 declared by President Ramaphosa will entail ceremonial elements performed by the South African Police Service (SAPS).

Ambassador Mthethwa, who served as South Africa’s Head of Mission in Paris, France, passed away in the French capital on September 30, at the age of 58.

He was appointed as Ambassador to France in December 2023, following 15 years in Cabinet where he served in the portfolios of Sport, Arts and Culture; Arts and Culture; Police; and Safety and Security. His tenure in the National Executive was preceded by a lifetime of political involvement and leadership.

“On behalf of Government and the nation, President Ramaphosa reiterates his deepest condolences to Ambassador Mthethwa’s wife, Ms Philisiwe Buthelezi, and the extended Mthethwa and Buthelezi families.

“The President assures the families of the nation’s appreciation for the diverse roles in which Ambassador Mthethwa served the country,” the Presidency said in a statement.