/ 30 June 2011

Sheryl Cwele’s disciplinary hearing under way

Sheryl Cwele's Disciplinary Hearing Under Way

Disciplinary hearings against convicted drug dealer Sheryl Cwele, the wife of State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele, are under way at the Hibiscus Coast municipality, where she is the director of health services.

Municipal manager Sbu Mkhize said he did not know how much evidence was still outstanding. He said the proceedings were being chaired by an independent, qualified legal professional.

Cwele, who is the municipality’s director of health services, appeared before a disciplinary committee on Wednesday after her conviction for drug dealing conviction.

“This is a sensitive issue and it is being dealt with adequately. We just have to wait for the outcome of the hearing,” said municipal speaker Ronnie Nair.

On Thursday, Mkhize briefed the full council on the matter at the council chambers in Port Shepstone.

Cwele and Nigerian Frank Nabolisa were sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment each on May 6 by the Pietermaritzburg High Court for drug dealing.

Several days later, the council that agreed Cwele should not receive an income from June 10, and that a formal disciplinary hearing should take place.

She and Nabolisa had pleaded not guilty to recruiting drug mule Tessa Beetge, who is serving a prison sentence in Brazil, and attempting to procure another woman, Charmaine Moss, to collect drugs in Turkey.

Moss turned down the offer because she suspected something was amiss.

Cwele is out of R100 000 bail pending an appeal against her conviction. Nabolisa remains in custody, but also intends appealing against his conviction and sentence.

Thursday’s briefing was also attended by representatives from the Democratic Alliance and the African National Congress who said they were happy with how the disciplinary hearing was being handled. — Sapa