Nathi Mthethwa, is that you? Man mistaken for late ex-Minister in viral Hartbeespoort photos

A man visiting The Upside Down House in Hartbeespoort has ignited a lively discussion on social media, after X users noticed his uncanny resemblance to the late South African minister Nathi Mthethwa. The individual, who goes by the username @EdwardThembaSa on X and identifies himself as "The Real King of the Jungle," posted photographs of himself outside the popular tourist destination. Dressed in a Mamelodi Sundowns jersey and sunglasses, he captioned the post, "I had to go see it," complete with four laughing emojis.

The images quickly garnered attention, with several X users commenting on his striking resemblance to Mthethwa. One user, @owaseYengweni, asked, "Nathi Mthethwa?" Another, @Lecheadi, playfully remarked, "You couldn't wait a little longer before you resurface?" "Manje mnaketfu, why do you look like Mthethwa," quipped @thuli_mashaba.

In response to the comments, @EdwardThembaSa joined in on the humor, joking that he would likely need plastic surgery and laughing off the comparisons to the late minister. Mthethwa passed away by suicide in Paris, France, on September 30, 2025, while serving as the country's Ambassador to France. His remains were later repatriated to KwaZulu-Natal, where he was buried.

Mthethwa had previously held key positions as the Cabinet Minister for Safety and Security, Police, and Sports, Arts and Culture. Last month, the Paris Prosecutor announced the closure of its investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.