South African novelist, essayist, and short-story writer known for his vivid narratives and characterizations in African settings.

Cloete farmed in South Africa for several years (1926–35) before turning to writing. His first novel, Turning Wheels (1937), expressed a negative view of Boer life and dealt with interracial love affairs. It stimulated much discussion, being published during the centennial celebration of the Great Trek. His later works included Rags of Glory (1963) and The Abductors (1966). He also wrote poems, collected in a volume, The Young Men and the Old (1941), and a collection of biographies, African Portraits (1946). His autobiography, A Victorian Son, appeared in 1972.