Former Minister of Arts and culture Nathi Mthethwa takes his own life
By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor
The arts sector in particular and the general public were shocked yesterday September 30, 2025 when news emerged from Paris, France, that the former minister of Arts and Culture who was at the time of his death South African Ambassador to France has died, reportedly through his own hand.
Details surrounding his tragic demise were sketchy yesterday, but various sources seemed to confirm that he died through suicide. His lifeless body was found by French authorities at a top hotel where he had booked himself.
Mthethwa became Minister of Arts and Culture after his role as Minister of Police.
However after the 2024 General elections he did not return to Cabinet in the work of the Government of National Unity after the ANC, his party, for the first time since the dawn of democracy in 1994. failed to secure enough votes to form government without involving other parties.
In his portfolio President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed the current incumbent Gayton McKenzie as part of the GNU coalition. McKenzie is from THE Patriotic Alliance Party.
This is a developing story and CITYLIFE/ARTS will update the story as more details emerge surrounding the former Minister’s death.