Cheryl Carolus

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

Biography Carolus was born on 27 May 1958 in Silvertown, on the Cape Flats, Cape Town. Her father was a printer’s assistant and her mother was a nurse. Carolus became involved in politics while still at school and became an activist as a member of the South African Black Students Association. After graduating, she became an English and History teacher in the Cape Flats. serving as general secretary from the launch in August 1983. She was one of two women in the delegation.

In July 1991, Carolus was elected to the ANC's National Executive Committee. She was elected Deputy Secretary General of the ANC in 1994. In 1997, Carolus became Acting General Secretary of the ANC. committing to Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa (FTTSA) and Pro-Poor Tourism Pilots in Southern Africa (PPT) during her tenure as CEO. She left the role in 2004. Carolus was then Board Chairperson for South African National Parks (SANPARKS), serving until 2012. In 2009, she assumed this position at South African Airways (SAA). She was also chairperson of Peotona Holdings, an investment company that deals with business development.

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

On 5 May 2018, the bodies of her husband Graeme Bloch's Bloch died in April 2021.

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

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