Mthethwa still had ‘date’ with Madlanga Commission

SOUTH African Ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa, was expected to provide his side of the story before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry to allegations of interference while he was police minister.

Mthethwa, a former Police and Sports, Arts and Culture Minister was found dead at the Hyatt Hotel in Porte Maillot in Paris on Tuesday.

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 was found "directly by the hotel", it added.

A source close to the case, who asked not to be named, said the ambassador had depression and his death could have been suicide, reported AFP.

Although the commission had not yet confirmed whether he was on the list of those expected to give testimony, he was expected to be given a right of reply after he was mentioned in testimony by KwaZulu-Natal provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. The commission is currently hearing testimony about the interference of senior government officials and politicians into police work.

Mkhwanazi told the commission that during his tenure as an acting national Police Commissioner in 2011, Mthethwa in his capacity as a Police Minister attempted to block the prosecution of the then police Crime Intelligence head Lieutenant-General Richard Mdluli. 

Mdluli was accused of abuse of state resources and corruption involving the Crime Intelligence Unit’s slush funds. According to Mkhwanazi, Mthethwa also ordered him to stop taking disciplinary action against Mdluli - Mkhwanazi described this as interference in the work of the police.

"If you talk about political interference, that was the worst that I ever experienced. At that time, I came from the specialised operations; the only thing I know is to chase criminals. I am promoted to become the acting National Commissioner, and I am confronted with this in front of me, and I say, but this is not what I signed up for when I joined the police. This can’t be right," Mkhwanazi explained.

He told the inquiry that he responded to Mthethwa and told him he was not going to do what he wanted him to do and demanded that Mthethwa write down the instruction.

Mkhwanazi said that Mthethwa then informed the late former Inspector-General of Intelligence, Advocate Faith Radebe to provide Mkhwanazi with written instructions to stop the investigation into Mdluli. This did not happen and Mdluli was suspended and charged.

Mdluli and his co-accused pleaded not guilty during the start of their corruption trial in the Pretoria High Court in May.

Mdluli, together with the former South African Police Service (SAPS ) Supply Chain Manager Heine Barnard and Chief Financial Officer, Solomon Lazarus, are facing charges of corruption, fraud and theft relating to the police’ secret slush fund from the time they were employed by the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Crime Intelligence Unit, between 2008 and 2012.

The charges relate to allegations of gross abuse of the police intelligence slush fund, from which Mdluli and his family are said to have benefited. They include: 

*Payment for private trips to China and Singapore. 

*Private use of a witness protection house in Boksburg and conversion of this property for his personal use. 

*The leasing of Mdluli’s private town house at Gordon Villas in Gordons Bay as a safe house to the state. 

*Using the monthly rental to pay his bond.

Other allegations are that Mdluli’s family members, without adequate qualifications or experience, were appointed in crime intelligence and provided with motor vehicles and cellphones.

Mthethwa, who was born and raised in Klaarwater township west of Durban, was appointed as an Ambassador to France in December 2023 after he was dropped as a Minister by President Cyril Ramaphosa in a cabinet reshuffle. At the time, he was the Sports, Arts and Culture Minister.

President Ramaphosa said: “The untimely passing of Ambassador Nathi Mthethwa is a moment of deep grief in which the Government and citizens stand beside the Mthethwa family.

“Ambassador Mthethwa has served our nation in diverse capacities during a lifetime that has ended prematurely and traumatically.

“In his last tenure of service he has facilitated the deepening of relations between South and the Republic of France, which has produced benefits for individuals and businesses in both countries and advanced our cooperation in the global arena. May his soul rest in peace.”

In a statement, International Relations and Cooperation spokesperson Chrispin Phiri said the circumstances leading to Mthethwa’s  untimely death were under investigation by the French authorities

He described Mthethwa as a distinguished servant of the nation, whose career was marked by dedicated service in critical ministerial portfolios, including Minister of Police  and Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture. 

“His lifelong commitment to public duty was further exemplified by his longstanding contribution to the African National Congress through its highest decision-making structures. In his diplomatic role, to which he was appointed in December 2023, Ambassador Mthethwa was tasked with strengthening the vital partnership and bilateral ties between South Africa and France.”

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola said: “I have no doubt that his passing is not only a national loss but is also felt within the international diplomatic community.” 

Cape Times