Nathi Mthethwa
Nathi Mthethwa | |
|---|---|
Mthethwa in 2018 | |
| South African Ambassador to France | |
| In office 29 February 2024 – 30 September 2025 | |
| President | Cyril Ramaphosa |
| Deputy | Nocawe Mafu |
| Preceded by | Sidwell Nyatsumba |
| Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture | |
| In office 30 May 2019 – 6 March 2023 | |
| President | Cyril Ramaphosa |
| Deputy | Rejoice Mabudafhasi Maggie Sotyu |
| Preceded by | Portfolio established |
| Succeeded by | Zizi Kodwa |
| Minister of Arts and Culture | |
| In office 25 May 2014 – 30 May 2019 | |
| President | Jacob Zuma Cyril Ramaphosa |
| Preceded by | Paul Mashatile |
| Succeeded by | Himself (for Sports, Arts and Culture) |
| Minister of Police | |
| In office 10 May 2009 – 25 May 2014 | |
| President | Jacob Zuma |
| Deputy | Fikile Mbalula Maggie Sotyu |
| Preceded by | Himself (for Safety and Security) |
| Succeeded by | Nkosinathi Nhleko |
| Minister of Safety and Security | |
| In office 25 September 2008 – 10 May 2009 | |
| President | Kgalema Motlanthe |
| Deputy | Susan Shabangu |
| Preceded by | Charles Nqakula |
| Succeeded by | Himself (for Police) |
| Chief Whip of the Majority Party | |
| In office 23 January 2008 – 25 September 2008 | |
| President | Thabo Mbeki |
| Preceded by | Isaac Mogase |
| Succeeded by | Mnyamezeli Booi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Emmanuel Nkosinathi Mthethwa 23 January 1967 Clermont, Natal Province, South Africa |
| Died | 29 September 2025 (aged 58) Paris, France |
| Party | African National Congress |
| Spouse |
Philisiwe Buthelezi (m. 2013) |
| Profession | Politician, diplomat |
Emmanuel Nkosinathi Mthethwa (23 January 1967 – 30 September 2025) was a South African politician who served as South African Ambassador to France from 2024 until his death in 2025. He represented the African National Congress (ANC) in the National Assembly of South Africa between 2002 and 2023, and he was a cabinet minister between September 2008 and March 2023.
Born in KwaZulu-Natal, Mthethwa rose to prominence in the ANC Youth League and joined the National Assembly in 2002. Pursuant to the ANC's 52nd National Conference in December 2007, he was elected to the ANC's National Executive Committee and National Working Committee, on which he served continuously until December 2022. In the aftermath of the 52nd National Conference, in January 2008, the ANC installed him as Chief Whip of the Majority Party in the National Assembly. He held that position until he ascended to the cabinet in September 2008.
Appointed by President Kgalema Motlanthe as Minister of Safety and Security, he continued in the same office, later renamed Minister of Police, in the first-term cabinet of President Jacob Zuma. During his tenure in the police portfolio from 2008 to 2014, Mthethwa's ministry had played a controversial role in the Marikana massacre and Nkandlagate controversy. He became Minister of Arts and Culture in May 2014 and Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture in May 2019, but he dropped off the ANC's National Executive Committee at the party's 55th National Conference in December 2022 and President Cyril Ramaphosa sacked him from the cabinet in March 2023. He resigned from the National Assembly a week later.