Cwele case being left to police

7 May 2010, 07:06
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By Carien Du Plessis
Political Bureau

State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele has not appeared before Parliament's watchdog joint standing committee on intelligence to explain whether he knew about his wife Sheryl's alleged involvement in drug dealing.

Opposition parties had demanded after the arrest Sheryl Cwele - who is director of health and community services at the Hibiscus Coast municipality in Port Shepstone - that the minister explain his position regarding her alleged dealings to Parliament.

Cwele told journalists: "I am not at liberty to deal with this matter because it is before the courts."

His wife was arrested in January. According to the charge sheet, Sheryl conspired with Nigerian national Frank Nabolisa to import cocaine and recruited young white women to act as drug mules on the pretext of arranging short-term jobs for them overseas.

Her husband said on Thursday: "There is nothing that compromises my work in this regard."

Cwele has not made any public statements on the matter, but it was reported that he and his wife were estranged. However, the Mail & Guardian reported that they went on holiday together in Mozambique, sharing a room. Cwele issued no denial of these reports.

State Security Director-General Jeff Maqetuka said no request had come from the committee for Cwele to account before it.

Committee chairman Cecil Burgess said the committee took a decision last year that the matter was being handled by the police and that the minister would not be called to appear before Parliament.



This article was originally published on page 2 of The Mercury on May 07, 2010

The Star

Comments by Sonny

What a convenience to have friends in high places!