Drug dealer fights to keep her job

Convicted drug dealer Sheryl Cwele’s future could be known within the next two weeks.

Cwele, who is married to State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele, was suspended from her position as the Hibiscus Coast health director in June after being convicted of drug dealing at the Pietermaritzburg High Court in May.

An internal municipal disciplinary hearing has been completed and Cwele will know if she will keep her job at the KZN south coast municipality.

“The processes for submissions on mitigation and aggravation for the hearing is still continuing, and is being conducted by an independent person,” said Simon Soboyisa, spokesman for the Hibiscus Coast municipality.

Cwele was convicted and sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment with her co-accused Nigerian Frank Nabolisa for recruiting South Coast women to smuggle drugs from South American countries.

Cwele is out on R100 000 bail and has challenged the suspension of her salary, a net figure of around R29 000 a month.

Cwele and Nabolisa have been granted leave to appeal the high court decision.