Johannesburg – The remains of former South African ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa, arrived at OR Tambo International Airport on Friday morning before being transported to his home in KwaZulu-Natal.
The plane carrying the body of South Africa’s ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa has landed at the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. https://t.co/MF5bGNmPJM pic.twitter.com/pkiL64Gh8t
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Before leaving Paris, his family performed a traditional ritual at the Hyatt Regency Hotel — the 22nd-floor room from which he fell — to fetch his spirit.
Mthethwa’s son, Mkhululi, described the ceremony as deeply emotional and crucial for closure.
“It means everything to us. We are people who pride ourselves on who we are, and this is part of who we are. We can’t lay him to rest without going through this process. It’s very crucial and sacred to our people,” he said.
Nathi Mthethwa’s son, Mkhululi, says it is still hard to comprehend the ambassador’s passing even though they were taken to the hotel room from where he is said to have plunged to his death.
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He added: “It’s extremely traumatic. We were granted access to the room, just to witness his last views. We held a small prayer as a family, just trying to absorb this sense of reality that we are faced with.
So it was quite emotional. And of course it’s not easy to see where his last breath was… We wanted to settle any unanswered questions within us.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared a Special Official Funeral (Category 2), scheduled for Sunday in KwaMthethwa, KZN.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
