Wife Of S. A.
Minister Of State Security In Court
Sheryl
Cwele, wife of South Africa’s Minister of State Security
Siyabonga Cwele, has been arrested for drug-related offences by
the specialized crime unit of the South African Police, the
Hawks.
The Hawks pounced on 50-year-old Sheryl at her Port Shepstone
home in KwaZulu-Natal on Friday morning and later charged her in
the Pietermaritzburg High Court of dealing in and producing
drugs.
The Minister’s wife is facing three counts of dealing in drugs
and producing 9.2 kilograms of cocaine. A third charge
relates to her inciting two other women to deal and produce
drugs.
Plea for bail denied
Cwele’s defence applied for bail on health conditions, but the
state opposed the application, arguing that it would amount to
preferential treatment.
The mother of one of the women currently serving an eight-year
jail term in Brazil, who allegedly trafficked drugs for Sheryl,
has welcomed the arrest of the minister’s wife, saying the move
brings hope to her daughter's fight for freedom.
The Hawks’ spokesperson, Musa Zondi says police have evidence
that Cwele, who will appear in court on February 12, was
involved in using people to courier the drugs from South
America. One of them is said to be in jail in Colombia.
Call for justice
Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa says justice has to take its
course while the opposition Democratic Alliance party, (DA) says
the case raises serious questions about whether the Minister
himself is involved in the alleged crimes.
Shadow Minister of State Security Theo Coetzee said the minister
would have to demonstrate to the South African public that his
position is in no way compromised by the allegations against his
wife.
Coetzee says, ’’ The DA will request that Minister Cwele
appear before the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence
soon.’’
Trial in a trial
Meanwhile, the State Security Minister has lost his Supreme
Court of Appeal application relating to the testimony of a
former spy boss in the trial of former National Police
Commissioner, Jackie Selebi.
Cwele wanted the Supreme Court to overturn a high court ruling
forcing ex-intelligence official Barry Gilder to take the stand
against the former police chief.
Selebi has been on trial on corruption charges and will return
to the South Gauteng High Court on Monday.
The drugs trial comes barely a month after National Police
Commissioner, Bheki Cele was reported to have said that
Nigerians were responsible for all the drug dealings in South
Africa – a charge that was promptly dismissed by the Nigeria
High Commission as illogical and unacceptable.
Yinka
