Between 1984 and 1990, he served in underground structures of the African National Congress (ANC), which at the time was banned by the apartheid government. After the party was unbanned in 1990, he was elected to the inaugural Provincial Executive Committee of the ANC's new KwaZulu-Natal branch; he remained a member of the committee for over two decades thereafter.[2]
During his tenure in the ministry, Cwele attended the ANC's 53rd National Conference in December 2012. Though Cwele had been re-elected to the Provincial Executive Committee in May,[8] he graduated at the 53rd Conference to the National Executive Committee, gaining election to a five-year term. By number of votes received, he was the 24th-most popular member of the 80-member body.[9]
Zondo Commission findings
Cwele's activities in the state security portfolio were later investigated by the Zondo Commission, which was established to investigate state capture under Zuma's administration. At the commission, three top SSA officials – Mo Shaik, Mzuvukile Maqetuka, and Gibson Njenje – testified that Cwele had obstructed investigations into the influence of the Gupta family and into Arthur Fraser's use of a slush fund to operate the controversial Principal Agent Network.[10][11][12] Cwele's relationship with all three officials had been poor,[13] and he denied their allegations in his own testimony before the commission.[14] However, the final report of the Zondo Commission largely accepted the officials' account, concluding that Cwele had obstructed both investigations in order to protect President Zuma's interests.[15][16]
During this period, the ANC was increasingly divided over Zuma's leadership and the race to succeed him as ANC president. According to the Business Day, Cwele shifted his allegiance to Zuma's deputy, Cyril Ramaphosa, in 2017, though he had previously been viewed as a strong supporter of Zuma.[19] The Mail & Guardian reported in May 2017 that Cwele had supported a motion of no confidence in Zuma's leadership, tabled by Joel Netshitenzhe at an ANC meeting[20] – although Eyewitness News reported that he had opposed the same motion.[21] At the ANC's 54th National Conference in December that year, Ramaphosa was elected to succeed Zuma as the president of the party, and Cwele was re-elected to the National Executive Committee, ranked 60th of 80.[22] He was retained in the cabinet when Ramaphosa replaced Zuma as President of South Africa in February 2018.
In the May 2019 general election, Cwele was re-elected to the National Assembly, ranked 54th on the ANC's national party list.[17] However, after the election, he was sacked from Ramaphosa's second cabinet; Aaron Motsoaledi was appointed to replace him as Minister of Home Affairs.[23] Shortly after the cabinet announcement, Cwele resigned from the National Assembly,[24] with effect from 3 June 2019.[17]
Cwele at ITU Telecom World, 11 September 2018
Ambassador to China: 2020–present
After Cwele resigned from frontline politics, President Ramaphosa designated him as South African Ambassador to China. Although the Sunday Times reported in March 2020 that he had been denied the requisite security clearance,[25] he arrived in Beijing on 4 December 2020 and presented his diplomatic credentials on 23 December.[26] He was not re-elected to the ANC National Executive Committee when his term expired in December 2022.
Personal life
In 1985, he married Sheryl Cwele, with whom he had four children.[27][28] She was director for health and community services at the Hibiscus Coast Local Municipality until May 2011, when she was convicted of dealing or conspiring to deal in cocaine.[29] Their divorce was finalised in August 2011, and Cwele said in court papers that he had been estranged from his wife since 2000.[30]
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
