Harry Gwala trained as a teacher at Adams College and taught at Slangspruit where his students included Moses Mabhida.
[4] There, he established a laundry collection business as a cover for continued ANC activity, and attempts to revive the South African Congress of Trade Unions.
[1] During his second prison term, Gwala developed a motor neuron disease that resulted in the paralysis of his arms, and eventually led to loss of control in his neck muscles.
During the negotiations of the 1990s, Gwala rejected rapprochement with the Inkatha Freedom Party, putting him at odds with the national ANC leadership.
[12][2] He was seen by his detractors as a warlord because of his incitement of violence in the conflict between the ANC and the Inkatha Freedom Party in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.