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Following the conviction of Cheryl Cwele on charges of international drug trafficking today, COPE calls for her spouse, State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele to either resign or be fired.

Either the Minister knew about his wife's operation to distribute hard drugs and benefited from it, or he did not know about it, casting aspersions on his competency for the role of Minister of State Security. Either way, this entire episode is an embarrassing blow to the reputation of South Africa and its government.

There must be a zero tolerance approach to corruption and crime, especially by those who are close to the executive. COPE therefore welcomes the judgment as it once again sends out a strong signal that our judiciary is fiercely independent of state control.