‘We Had to Go There’: Mthethwa Family Travels to Paris to Fetch His Spirit Before Burial

In the wake of Ambassador Nathi Mthethwa’s sudden death in Paris last week, his family has carried out a traditional Zulu ritual inside the Hyatt Regency Hotel, a deeply spiritual act they say was essential before bringing him home to South Africa.

The ceremony, performed in his 22nd-floor room where he is believed to have fallen to his death, was not symbolic for the family, it was non-negotiable.

A Sacred Process, Not a Cultural Footnote

Speaking from Paris, Mthethwa’s son, Mkhululi, said returning to the room was profoundly painful but necessary.

“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,” he said. “It means everything to us.”

In many Nguni cultures, death that occurs away from home requires a cleansing or “spirit-fetching” ritual, a way to call the deceased back to their people so they do not wander or remain spiritually stuck in foreign soil. Elders, traditional healers and clan historians have long warned that failing to perform these rites can have generational consequences, affecting descendants and family harmony.

The family was granted special access by French authorities to enter the hotel room. There, they prayed, paid their respects and stood in the exact space where he took his last breath.

“It’s extremely traumatic,” Mkhululi admitted. “We wanted to settle unanswered questions within us… to see his last view with our own eyes.”

Investigation Still Ongoing

French police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the ambassador’s death. He was 58.

Mkhululi says the family is waiting for official findings before drawing conclusions.

“No one will really understand at this moment. For us, it’s about getting a step closer to closure.”

Dr Sifiso Buthelezi, Mthethwa’s brother-in-law, will act as the family’s liaison with SAPS officials stationed in Paris.

Repatriation and National Farewell

Mthethwa’s remains are scheduled to arrive at OR Tambo International Airport on Friday morning. DIRCO has confirmed an official memorial service at its Pretoria headquarters, with President Cyril Ramaphosa granting him a Special Official Funeral (Category 2) a rare honour reserved for national figures.

“It means a great deal to us,” his son said. “My father dedicated his life from a young age to the liberation and emancipation of our people.”

The final burial will take place on Sunday in KwaMthethwa, KZN, among his ancestors, as tradition demands.

Cultural Respect Meets Public Mourning

Across social media, many South Africans, particularly from Zulu, Xhosa and Swati communities, applauded the family’s decision to perform the ritual abroad. Comments on X and Facebook pointed out that African practices have long been sidelined in diplomatic and elite circles, and praised the family for not allowing urban formalities to overshadow tradition.

Others noted how rare it is for diplomatic families to publicly acknowledge such rituals, especially on foreign soil.

Traditional practitioners interviewed earlier in the week emphasised the importance of spiritually “bringing him back” before burial. One elder put it simply: “A body can fly home, but the spirit must be fetched.”

More Than Mourning: It’s About Continuity

For many South Africans, this story touches something deeper than official funerals and state flags. It raises questions about identity, grief and what it means to honour a loved one in a world that often treats tradition as an afterthought.

In the end, the Mthethwa family has made it clear: they are not only returning a body to South African soil, they are bringing home a spirit that must rest where it belongs.

{Source: IOL}

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