Get to know Siviwe Gwarube, South Africa's youngest minister
Siviwe Gwarube found her calling in politics over a decade ago, after initially hoping to become a lawyer. Her ambitious leadership and dedication to public service have since set her apart. In her 2024 conversation with Dr Amaleya Goneos-Malka, she said:
We must go out there and be brave and be courageous — even when we are afraid of failure. We must do the things that set our souls on fire.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Siviwe started her political career in 2012 at 22 when she joined the DA’s communication staff as Lindiwe Mzabuko's spokesperson.
- She has been an elected MP for Cape Town since May 2019 and was appointed Minister for Basic Education in 2024.
- In April 2025, Siviwe was chosen to participate in the prestigious Young Global Leaders Class of 2025 at the World Economic Forum.
Siviwe Gwarube's profile summary
| Full name | Gwarube Siviwe |
| Date of birth | July 14, 1989 |
| Age | 35 years old (as of May 2025) |
| Place of birth | KwaMdingi, King Williams Town, Eastern Cape |
| Current residence | Cape Town, Western Cape |
| Grandmother | Virginia Veliswa Gwarube |
| Education | Rhodes University (Law, Politics, & Philosophy)University of the Western Cape (Political Science & Government)Kingsridge High School for Girls |
| Profession | Politician (2012 to date) |
| Political party | Democratic Alliance |
| Profession | X (Twitter)InstagramFacebookLinkedIn |
Siviwe Gwarube was raised by her grandmother
The DBE Minister was born and raised in KwaMdingi, a small rural town near King Williams Town in the Eastern Cape Province. She was left in the care of her grandmother, Virginia Veliswa Gwarube, who worked as a teacher and businesswoman.
Siviwe credits her grandmother (whom she often calls mum) for being her greatest influence as a trailblazing feminist. She told Spotlight in 2019 that without Veliswa's sacrifice, she could not have had a good education.
My mum is passionate about education and that's why I got the education I got. And not because she had the money, because she literally sacrificed everything. This taught me empathy for kids who go to places where financially they don't belong.
Source: Original
Siviwe Gwarube's educational background
Siviwe Gwarube's first qualification was a BA in Law, Politics, & Philosophy from Rhodes University in Grahamstown. She had her eyes set on becoming a family lawyer, but she did not have the money to fund her LLB when she graduated in 2011.
As a student at Rhodes, she was active in the activities of the Democratic Alliance Young Leaders Programme, where she met then-DA parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mzabuko. Siviwe applied for a spokesperson job at Lindiwe's office and was hired at 22.
The parliamentary spokesperson position made her interested in political communication. In 2015, Siviwe decided to further her education by enrolling at the University of the Western Cape. She graduated in 2017 with an Honours degree in Political Science and Government.
Source: Getty Images
Siviwe Gwarube's swift rise in SA's politics
After leaving the parliamentary communication office in 2014, Gwarube joined the Western Cape Provincial Government as a media liaison officer. She rose the ranks to become the chief of staff in the office of Health MEC Nomafrench Mbombo.
She became the Executive Director of Communications for the Democratic Alliance in 2017, serving until July 2019. Siviwe won her first political seat in May 2019 when she was elected Member of Parliament for Cape Town at 30.
Source: Getty Images
In June 2019, the DA appointed her the Shadow Minister for Health in Mmusi Maimane's shadow cabinet. She also served as the spokesperson for the DA from 2020 to 2023 and was appointed the Chief Whip of South Africa's official opposition in August 2022.
Siviwe Gwarube was named South Africa's Minister of Basic Education in July 2024, making her one of the youngest appointees in the Government of National Unity (GNU). She took over from ANC veteran Angie Motshekga, who had served in the position for 15 years.
Source: Getty Images
Gwarube's role as the Minister of Basic Education
As the new DBE Minister, Siviwe Gwarube oversees South Africa's education system from Grade 1 to Grade 12. She formulates educational policies aimed at improving teaching and learning qualities.
One of the major developments under her leadership was the signing into law of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act in September 2024. BELA was implemented to reform SA's education system. Some of the Act's key features include compulsory Grade R and inclusive school admission policies.
Siviwe also pledged to eradicate pit latrines in public schools through the Sanitation Appropriate for Education (SAFE) initiative. President Ramaphosa had set the deadline for the removal of all unsafe sanitation infrastructure by March 31, 2025. In early April 2025, Siviwe revealed that the department had achieved a 96% eradication rate, and the percentage will exceed 98% by July 2025.
Source: Getty Images
Siviwe is committed to youth and women's empowerment
The Minister describes herself as an unrepentant feminist. She is dedicated to uplifting young South African women through initiatives like Girls Who Code. While speaking during the International Day of the Girl Child in 2024, Siviwe emphasised the importance of investing in girls for a better society.
If effectively supported during their adolescent years, girls have the potential to change the world – both as the empowered girls of today and as tomorrow's workers, mothers, entrepreneurs, mentors, household heads and political leaders.
Source: Getty Images
Is Siviwe Gwarube married?
It is unclear if Siviwe Gwarube has a husband because she rarely talks about her love life, but she occasionally shares about her family on Instagram. The Minister is close to her half-siblings, Sibu Gwarube, Que Xanga, and Zukhanye Xanga. She is also a proud aunt.
Source: Instagram
Siviwe Gwarube's journey from rural Eastern Cape to becoming a key government figure earns her a place among the trailblazing female icons in South African politics. She remains an inspiration to many as she rewrites the standards for young leaders, especially women.
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