Cheryl Carolus

Last updated

Graeme Bloch
​
(died 2021)​
Cheryl Carolus
Cheryl Carolus (39947901275).jpg
Carolus in February 2018
South African High Commissioner to the United Kingdom
In office
2 March 1998 –1 November 2001
Preceded by Mendi Msimang
Succeeded by Lindiwe Mabuza
Alma mater University of the Western Cape
Occupation
  • Politician
  • diplomat

Cheryl Carolus (born 27 May 1958) is a South African politician, diplomat and activist.

Contents

Biography

Carolus was born on 27 May 1958 in Silvertown, on the Cape Flats, Cape Town. [1] Her father was a printer’s assistant and her mother was a nurse. [2] [3] Carolus became involved in politics while still at school and became an activist as a member of the South African Black Students Association. [2] She was detained for five months in 1976 for her anti-apartheid activism. [2]

Carolus studied at the University of the Western Cape (UWC). [1] [4] After graduating, she became an English and History teacher in the Cape Flats. [1]

In 1983, Carolus joined the United Democratic Front (UDF), [5] serving as general secretary from the launch in August 1983. [2] In May 1990, Carolus was elected to be part of the African National Congress' delegation which held talks with the apartheid government of F. W. de Klerk at Groote Schuur. [2] [6] [7] She was one of two women in the delegation. [8] [9]

In July 1991, Carolus was elected to the ANC's National Executive Committee. [6] [10] [11] She was elected Deputy Secretary General of the ANC in 1994. [8] At the 1995 ANC Conference, when the National Coalition of Gay and Lesbian Equality was launched, Carolous stated that she opposed homophobia for the same reasons that she opposed racism and sexism. [12] In 1997, Carolus became Acting General Secretary of the ANC. [9]

In 1998, Carolus became South Africa's High Commissioner in London, [6] serving until 2001. [2]

From 2001, Carolus was the chief executive officer of South African Tourism, [13] [14] [15] committing to Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa (FTTSA) and Pro-Poor Tourism Pilots in Southern Africa (PPT) during her tenure as CEO. [16] She left the role in 2004. [17] [18] [19] Carolus was then Board Chairperson for South African National Parks (SANPARKS), [20] serving until 2012. [21] In 2009, she assumed this position at South African Airways (SAA). [22] [23] She was also chairperson of Peotona Holdings, an investment company that deals with business development.[ citation needed ]

In 2014, Carolus became a patron of the Girl Child Institute of Mentorship (GCIM). [24] Carolus is a member of the Executive Committee of the International Crisis Group. [25] In 2015, she was a Trustee of the British Museum. [26]

On 5 May 2018, the bodies of her husband Graeme Bloch's [2] parents were discovered in Cape Town. They had been tied up and murdered. [27] Bloch died in April 2021. [28] [29]

In 2022, Carolus became nonexecutive director and chair of the board of Grindrod. [30]

Honours

Carolus was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Law by the University of Cape Town in 2004. [2] She was also appointed to the French National Order of Merit by the government of France.[ citation needed ]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Gastrow, Shelagh (1995). Who's who in South African Politics. Ravan Press. pp. 27–29. ISBN   978-0-86975-458-0.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Cheryl Carolus". South African History Online. Archived from the original on 16 January 2025. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  3. ↑ Accent on Women. Vol. 2. South African Communication Service. 1994. p. 41.
  4. ↑ Forster, Forster Laurel (21 September 2020). Women's Periodicals and Print Culture in Britain, 1940s-2000s: The Postwar and Contemporary Period. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN   978-1-4744-7000-1.
  5. ↑ Plaut, Martin; Seeking, Jeremy (2002). "Reflections on the South African Revolution: A Discussion between Martin Plaut and Jeremy Seeking". History Workshop Journal (54): 209–220. ISSN   1363-3554.
  6. 1 2 3 Goetz, Anne Marie; Hassim, Shireen (2003). No Shortcuts to Power: African Women in Politics and Policy Making. Zed Books. p. 98. ISBN   978-1-84277-147-1.
  7. ↑ Fluehr-Lobban, Carolyn; Billson, Janet Mancini (4 July 2013). Female Well-Being: Toward a Global Theory of Social Change. Zed Books Ltd. p. 255. ISBN   978-1-84813-667-0.
  8. 1 2 Hassim, Shireen (26 June 2006). Women's Organizations and Democracy in South Africa: Contesting Authority. Univ of Wisconsin Press. p. 196. ISBN   978-0-299-21383-1.
  9. 1 2 "Women lawmakers have an impact on international law, London conference hears". The Irish Times. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  10. ↑ Deegan, Heather (4 August 2005). South Africa Reborn: Building A New Democracy. Routledge. pp. 3, 18, 58. ISBN   978-1-135-36135-8.
  11. ↑ Curtin, M. (5 February 1994). "ANC promises national health service". BMJ. 308 (6925): 357. doi:10.1136/bmj.308.6925.357. ISSN   0959-8138.
  12. ↑ Adam, Barry; Duyvendak, Jan Willem; Krouwel, André (1999). Global Emergence Of Gay & Lesbian Pol. Temple University Press. p. 274. ISBN   978-1-56639-645-5.
  13. ↑ "Carolus to take over as new Satour head". IOL. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  14. ↑ "South Africa targets budget tourists". BBC News. 10 April 2002. Archived from the original on 17 September 2009. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  15. ↑ Thomas, Cornelius C. (2007). Tangling the Lion's Tale: Donald Card, from Apartheid Era Cop to Crusader for Justice. Donald Card. p. 264. ISBN   978-0-620-39081-1.
  16. ↑ "South African Tourism affirms commitment to Fair Trade in Tourism". TravelMole. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  17. ↑ "Carolus heads for new frontiers". The Mail & Guardian. 17 August 2004. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  18. ↑ Weaver, Tony (15 March 2002). "Carolus ready to put on her dancing shoes". IOL. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  19. ↑ "Carolus to leave SA Tourism". News24. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  20. ↑ "Carolus to head SANParks". News24. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  21. ↑ Mahlati, Zintle (1 August 2018). "I want my country back, Carolus tells inquiry as she concludes testimony". IOL. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  22. ↑ "Carolus to head SAA board". The Mail & Guardian. 1 October 2009. Archived from the original on 20 April 2024. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  23. ↑ DeIonno, Peter; D'Angelo, Audrey; Hazelhurst, Ethel; Crotty, Ann (7 May 2010). "Carolus faces tough choices at bidirectional SAA". IOL. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  24. ↑ "Winning Women – Cheryl Carolus: Blazing trails for women". News24. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  25. ↑ ICG, Crisis Group's Board of Trustees Archived 3 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  26. ↑ The British Museum Trustees Archived 10 May 2018 at the Wayback Machine . British Museum . Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  27. ↑ Mngadi, Mxolisi (5 May 2018). "Pensioners tied up and killed: Police probing murders of Graeme Bloch's parents". News24. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  28. ↑ Yende, Sizwe Sama. "Graeme Bloch remembered for his humility and love for his family and humanity". Citypress. Archived from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  29. ↑ "Family turned down offer of state funeral for activist Graeme Bloch". News24. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  30. ↑ "Carolus joins Grindrod board, to succeed Hankinson as chair in May 2022". Engineering News. Archived from the original on 22 July 2025. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
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