Siyabonga Cwele facts for kids

Quick facts for kids His Excellency Siyabonga Cwele
Cwele in September 2018
South African Ambassador to China
Incumbent
Assumed office 23 December 2020
President	Cyril Ramaphosa
Preceded by	Dolana Msimang
Minister of Home Affairs
In office 22 November 2018 – 29 May 2019
President	Cyril Ramaphosa
Deputy	Fatima Chohan
Preceded by	Malusi Gigaba
Succeeded by	Aaron Motsoaledi
Prior cabinet offices 2008–2018 Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services In office 25 May 2014 – 22 November 2018 President Jacob Zuma Cyril Ramaphosa Deputy Hlengiwe Mkhize Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams Preceded by Position established Succeeded by Position abolished Minister of State Security In office 11 May 2009 – 25 May 2014 President Jacob Zuma Preceded by Himself (for Intelligence) Succeeded by David Mahlobo Minister of Intelligence Services In office 25 September 2008 – 10 May 2009 President Kgalema Motlanthe Preceded by Ronnie Kasrils Succeeded by Himself (for State Security)
Legislative offices 1994–2019 Member of the National Assembly In office 14 June 1999 – 3 June 2019 Constituency KwaZulu-Natal (1999–2009) Permanent Delegate to the National Council of Provinces Assembly Member for KwaZulu-Natal In office 9 May 1994 – June 1999
Personal details
Born	Siyabonga Cyprian Cwele (1958-09-03) 3 September 1958 (age 66)
Citizenship	South Africa
Political party	African National Congress
Spouse	Sheryl Cwele ​ ​ (m. 1985; div. 2011)​
Alma mater	University of KwaZulu-Natal (MBChB) Stellenbosch University (MPhil)

Siyabonga Cyprian Cwele (born 3 September 1958) is a South African politician. He served as a minister in the cabinet of South Africa from 2008 to 2019. His last role was as the Minister of Home Affairs between 2018 and 2019.

In December 2020, he became the South African Ambassador to China. Mr. Cwele is a member of the African National Congress (ANC). He represented the party in Parliament for many years, from 1994 to 2019.

Mr. Cwele is a medical doctor by training. He joined the ANC's secret groups during apartheid in 1984. In the 1994 general election, he was chosen to represent KwaZulu-Natal in the National Council of Provinces. After one term, he joined the National Assembly. He led Parliament's Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence from 2004 to 2008.

Early Life and School

Siyabonga Cyprian Cwele was born on 3 September 1958. His birthplace was KwaMachi, near Harding, in what is now KwaZulu-Natal province. He studied at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. In 1984, he earned his medical degree (MBChB). Later, he completed a master's degree (MPhil) in economic policy. He received this degree from the University of Stellenbosch.

Starting His Political Journey

From 1984 to 1990, Mr. Cwele worked with the African National Congress (ANC) in secret. At that time, the apartheid government had banned the ANC. When the party was allowed again in 1990, he was chosen for the first Provincial Executive Committee of the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal. He remained a member of this committee for over twenty years.

Serving in Parliament: 1994–2008

In April 1994, South Africa held its first general election where everyone could vote. Mr. Cwele was elected to represent the ANC in the Senate of South Africa. This body was soon renamed the National Council of Provinces. He represented the KwaZulu-Natal area.

He served one term there. In the next general election in June 1999, he was elected to the National Assembly. This is the main house of Parliament. He was a regular member of Parliament, representing the KwaZulu-Natal constituency. After the 2004 general election, the ANC chose him to lead the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence.

Working in State Security: 2008–2014

On 25 September 2008, President Kgalema Motlanthe announced his new team of ministers. He chose Mr. Cwele to be the Minister of Intelligence. This job became open when Ronnie Kasrils resigned.

After the April 2009 general election, President Jacob Zuma took over from Motlanthe. President Zuma changed the name of Mr. Cwele's job to Minister of State Security. This change was made to fit with the new State Security Agency (SSA).

During his time as minister, Mr. Cwele attended the ANC's 53rd National Conference in December 2012. He was elected to the National Executive Committee. This is a very important group within the ANC. He served a five-year term on this committee.

Leading Telecommunications and Postal Services: 2014–2018

In the 2014 general election, Mr. Cwele was elected to the National Assembly for his fourth term. President Zuma then announced his new group of ministers. He created a new ministry and appointed Mr. Cwele as the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services.

During this time, the ANC party had some disagreements about who should lead. Mr. Cwele later supported Cyril Ramaphosa, who was Zuma's deputy. In December 2017, Ramaphosa was elected as the new president of the ANC. Mr. Cwele was re-elected to the National Executive Committee. When Ramaphosa became President of South Africa in February 2018, he kept Mr. Cwele in his team of ministers.

Cwele with Houlin Zhao at ITU Telecom World, 10 September 2018

Minister of Home Affairs: 2018–2019

On 22 November 2018, President Ramaphosa made some changes to his team of ministers. This happened after Malusi Gigaba resigned. Mr. Cwele was chosen to take over as Minister of Home Affairs.

His previous job, Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, was combined with another ministry. It became the Ministry of Communications of Digital Technologies. Mr. Cwele's former deputy, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, took charge of this new ministry.

In the May 2019 general election, Mr. Cwele was re-elected to the National Assembly. However, after the election, he was not chosen for President Ramaphosa's new team of ministers. Aaron Motsoaledi became the new Minister of Home Affairs. Soon after, Mr. Cwele resigned from the National Assembly on 3 June 2019.

Cwele at ITU Telecom World, 11 September 2018

Ambassador to China: 2020–Present

After leaving his role in South African politics, President Ramaphosa appointed Mr. Cwele as the South African Ambassador to China. He arrived in Beijing on 4 December 2020. On 23 December, he officially presented his diplomatic papers. His term on the ANC National Executive Committee ended in December 2022.

Personal Life

In 1985, Siyabonga Cwele married Sheryl Cwele. They had four children together. Their divorce was finalized in August 2011. Mr. Cwele stated in court papers that he had been separated from his wife since 2000.