Born in the Eastern Cape, Gwarube entered politics in 2012 as a spokesperson for DA parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko. During the Sixth Parliament, before her appointment as the DA's Chief Whip, she served as ShadowMinister of Health from June 2019 to February 2022, national spokesperson of the DA from November 2020 to August 2022, and Deputy Chief Whip from December 2021 to August 2022.
Early life and career
Born on 14 July 1989,[1] Gwarube grew up in KwaMdingi, a village outside King William's Town in the former Cape Province.[2] She was raised by her grandmother, who was an unmarried teacher.[3] After matriculating at the Kingsridge High School for Girls in King William's Town, she studied law, politics, and philosophy at Rhodes University in Grahamstown. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 2012.[3]
On 24 November 2020, Steenhuisen announced Gwarube's appointment as the DA's new national spokesperson, a position previously held jointly by Solly Malatsi and Refilwe Ntsheke.[10][11] She was in that role for just over a year before the DA held its internal midterm caucus elections on 2 December 2021. In a heated contest to succeed Jacques Julius as deputy chief whip of the DA parliamentary caucus, Gwarube was victorious against Chris Hunsinger and Angel Khanyile.[12][13] Alongside her new position as deputy chief whip, she continued to serve as DA national spokesperson and as Shadow Minister of Health, until in February 2022 she ceded the health portfolio to Michéle Clarke.[14]
On 18 August 2022, Gwarube was promoted to become chief whip of the DA caucus in the National Assembly; the incumbent, Natasha Mazzone, was sacked.[15][16] Commentators remarked on Gwarube's "meteoric rise" through the caucus.[17][18] In an editorial, Mondli Makhanya of City Press remarked that, although she was "an articulate, confident MP and party spokesperson whose voice you cannot miss", Gwarube remained relatively inexperienced; he warned her to guard against "being set up to fail".[19] Gwarube, however, said that she was prepared for the role and that she intended "to navigate this space very authentically".[20]Cilliers Brink and Solly Malatsi were appointed to take over her responsibilities as DA national spokesperson.[17]
Although the National Association of School Governing Bodies welcomed Gwarube's appointment to the education ministry,[26] the South African Democratic Teachers Union objected strongly, with union leader Mugwena Maluleke telling the press that her ascension was an "affront" to the union.[27][28]
