Joe Modise

Modise joined the armed wing of the African National Congress, Umkhonto we Sizwe, after the ANC was banned. He underwent military training abroad and became a key figure in the armed struggle against apartheid.

Modise rose to become the commander of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the military wing of the ANC. He oversaw guerrilla operations, including sabotage campaigns and infiltration of fighters into South Africa, from bases in neighboring countries.

As Defence Minister, Modise oversaw the complex process of integrating MK, the apartheid-era South African Defence Force, and the homelands' armies into a unified force. The process faced challenges but was largely successful.

Modise was appointed Minister of Defence in Nelson Mandela's first post-apartheid government. He was responsible for integrating the former apartheid military, MK, and other armed forces into a single South African National Defence Force.