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Home , Joe Gqabi, Joe Modise, Robert Resha, Ronnie Kasrils, Thabo Mbeki, Umkhonto we Sizwe

POLITICS ’s role

© South African History Archives in the formation of

MK High Command , and Joe Modise

The art of conspiracy was new to our people and there was a lot of carelessness as a result. People had to be sent out of the country for both political and military training.

By Fidelis Hove

ver the years, the literature ANC’s army has not been chronicled what was the contribution of urban has been enriched by with comparable detail. While Joe youths like Joe Modise in agitating for Ovarious accounts of the role Modise was undoubtedly one of MK’s an armed struggle? And second, what played by and Albert most prominent figures, leading the were the roles of Joe Modise and other Luthuli in the formation of ANC’s organisation for over 30 years, his members of the MK’s High Command military wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe contribution to its formation is best in building the people's army? This (MK). However, the contribution of understood by engaging in a discussion paper attempts to answer these various other founder members of the that answers two basic questions: First, questions by drawing on quotations

34 THE THINKER POLITICS from first hand sources as found in rousing speeches at various rallies became an appointed organiser soon various archival material, interviews and by interacting with Mandela and after joining the Youth League. It was and literature. other leaders of the African National a role in which he strengthened his Johannes “Joe” Modise was born to Congress’s Youth League. Ahmed relationships with party leaders such as a working class family in Doornfontein, Kathrada made frequent social calls on Mandela, who had begun to shape the in March of 1929 and Joe Modise and , whom thinking of young people. was the only child of Miriam and he referred to as his close friends in When the Strydom Government Ezekiel Modise. His mother was a .4 These informal meetings declared Modise’s residential area, domestic worker and so Modise grew and similar interactions with many Sophiatown, a white area in terms of up in the backyard of the white family other young political activists marked the , black residents for whom his mother cleaned, cooked the start of Modise’s political life. whose homes were threatened with and minded the children. His father “When the National Party came to demolition organised themselves into worked as a sweeper in a factory in power in 1948 the tempo of political a resistance formation that became Johannesburg where coincidentally, agitation increased. Meetings became known as the Western Areas Protest the father of ANC activist and stalwart, more frequent and more interesting. Committee. As an ANC Youth League also worked.1 His parents The Youth League in Sophiatown and organiser, Modise and fellow Youth later separated and he moved with Newclare increased political work League members like Peter Nthite were his mother to Kliptown in what later among young people. It is around immediately involved in the activities became the South Western Townships this time that I joined the ANC Youth of the committee to resist forced (), where he excelled in sports, League,” Modise said.5 removals from Sophiatown. Risking his particularly boxing and soccer. He job as a PUTCO bus driver, Modise and completed his secondary education By then Modise, others organised a campaign named at Fred Clark Memorial School in “Azikhwelwa” – a stay-at-home strike Nancefield, Soweto, where he passed who had previously that involved, among other things, his Junior Certificate. To ease the been a firm believer boycotting buses that ferried workers financial burden on his mother, who between their homes and places of earned very little from her employers, in militant but non- work. During this and other campaigns Modise left school after passing his violent forms of Nelson Mandela recalls Joe Modise as Junior Certificate and worked odd ‘one of the most dedicated of the local jobs as a driver for various companies struggle, had lost ANC leaders.’6 before taking up employment with the confidence in non- Michael Kitso Dingake, an ANC Public Utility Transport Corporation stalwart and a Robin Island detainee, (PUTCO) in Sophiatown as a bus violence because of who worked alongside Joe Modise driver.2 While working as a bus driver, the ruthlessness of as an ANC Youth League activist he enrolled with a correspondence in Sophiatown, dismisses what he college to continue with his studies the describes as “apartheid security forces until he passed his matric. authorities. sponsored conspiracy theories” linking Modise recounted his introduction Joe Modise with gangster activities to politics in a 1988 interview with The Youth League responded to in Alexander “because, in the first Dawn, an Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) the National Party’s ascent to power place, he never lived there.”7 Dingake publication, as follows: “I have known and the oppressive laws of the day identifies Joe Modise as “a dynamo Comrade Nelson Mandela from 1947. by developing a Programme of of an organiser, and an activist who There was a place called Freedom Action, which was presented at the had the energy and the boundless Square in Newclare Western Native ANC Conference of 1949 and was political will to organise wherever there where the ANC used to subsequently adopted as policy by the were people.” Modise, according to organise rallies. These rallies were ANC party. The Programme’s adoption, Dingake, organised even in the buses organised on Sundays and, since I through the initiative of the Youth that he was driving. “At bus ranks would be home, I used to go and listen League, marked an inflection point in where buses collected passengers, to the oratory there. I was still young the history of the ANC as it represented he would sit behind the wheel while at that time and just beginning to be a radical departure from the passengers were trickling in and would introduced to politics. I used to find strategies of the organisation start with his mobilisation of the very Nelson Mandela to be very interesting and transformed the ANC into a passengers, until the bus was full and and impressive. Mandela, the late revolutionary, more militant mass he was ready to start the journey …. JB Marks, , Robert movement. The Programme called and when Joe was not driving a bus, Resha and Edwin Mofutsanyana were for an end to compliance with the he would jump into a passing train and outstanding speakers.”3 government’s racist policies and begin with his political mobilisation By 1948, young Modise had advocated defiance in the form of until the train arrived at its destination, immersed himself in the local political strikes and boycotts under the motto where he would jump into another climate by absorbing the content of “’s cause must triumph.” Modise train moving in the opposite direction

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and restart his political work until he with the apartheid law during struggle in the 1950s, especially after reached his station.” the Treason Trial that he became the women’s passes.” One Dingake explained that the determined to convince the leadership trialist who agreed with Joe Modise and tendency to describe militant township of the ANC of the futility of non- others from the onset was Raymond youths as tsotsis partly resulted from violence in the face of the intensified Mhlaba: “By 1958 I was one of those the older generation’s inability to brutality of the regime against any advocating armed struggle. Most of the tell the difference between criminals attempt to resist their oppressive laws,” others didn’t agree. The Nationalist and streetwise township youths, recalled Dingake. He added that he Party was becoming ruthless. I know I whose ideas and modern lifestyle and Nthite used to join Modise in got a pain in my heart when there was were in radical contrast to the status urging to influence other a stay-away in 1958 when they started quo. Dingake says the following of leaders of the organisation to seriously calling on soldiers to kick us out of our the Youth League in Sophiatown, of consider a move away from non- homes. I thought, let us fight it out. I which he, Modise and others were violent means of struggle because they started advocating it in all forums. Even members: “We were highly political had outlived their usefulness. in 1958, the majority of ANC leaders and everything we did was driven, However, a closer look at thought I was mad.”14 first and foremost, by our political developments across the country at that Militant operations against the consciousness and unqualified support time shows that the call by young urban regime predated the formation of MK. for the struggle against a system that activists like Modise for non-violent The first such operation was carried out looked down upon black people. means of struggle to be abandoned, seven months before the formal launch We were determined to prove to the resonated with the prevailing mood of MK, in May of 1961, as a response apartheid rulers in every possible way, among oppressed black communities to the apartheid government’s decision that we were not inferior to them.”8 and organisations elsewhere in the to declare a republic. In Alongside Mandela and other Youth country, especially in some rural the Dawn publication on 10 January League leaders, Modise, Nthite and areas. In the 1950s there were violent 1986, Modise explains: other Youth League organisers were We acted even earlier than the instrumental in mobilising communities The ANC had actual launching of MK. With the to protest against the introduction of declaration of the racist republic in Bantu Education which led to Modise’s decided that Modise May 1961, people were organised first arrest in 1954.9 A few months later, should leave the to strike. We felt that in order to he was one of the principal organisers strengthen this call we should act of the movement country for safety also independently, but in a different in Kliptown, Soweto, which helped reasons as he had way, no longer in a passive and organise the Congress of the People.10 been added to the peaceful way. So , myself The success of the Congress of the and a number of other comrades People was cause for concern to the apartheid police’s decided to stop the trains that ran apartheid government and 156 of those “most wanted” between Soweto and Johannesburg. identified by the regime as leading We consulted technician friends figures in its organisation, including list. who told us that if we threw a Nelson Mandela and Joe Modise, wire over the mains that supply were arrested, charged with treason uprisings in places like Pondoland in power to the electric trains, this and put on trial under the proceedings the , Lehurutshe in the would bring about a short circuit and of the Treason Trial.11 As the state’s then Western Transvaal (present day there would be no power generated case against the treason trialists began North West) and some areas in the to the line to enable the trains to collapse, Modise was amongst then Northern Transvaal (present day to move.15 the 73 trialists whose charges were ). People in many parts of In the same article Modise recalled dropped. the country had decided that the use that after preliminary discussions with By then Modise, who had previously or arms was necessary in the struggle some members of the ANC leadership, been a firm believer in militant but against apartheid. in particular and Walter non-violent forms of struggle, had The call for the abandonment of Sisulu, he was invited to Stanger in lost confidence in non-violence non-violence was met with resistance Natal, where the ANC, South African because of the ruthlessness of the from some sections of the organisation, Communist Party (SACP), Coloured apartheid authorities. He, like many particularly older members, who People's Congress, South African other members of the Youth League, initially dismissed radical urban youths Indian Congress and the Congress of believed that the organisation’s policy calling for movement away from non- Democrats met to discuss this new of non-violence had run its course violence as “semi-gangsters”12 or form of struggle. After two days of and that the time had come for the wanting to do things “tsotsi style.”13 consultation, it was agreed that the oppressed people to fight fire with fire , an ANC stalwart, ANC and SACP would undertake in pursuit of their liberation. recalls: “There was mounting pressure armed struggle – marking the effective “It was after Modise’s experience to move away from the non-violent launch of MK.

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When the birth of MK was was underground and the police were named as co-conspirator during the announced on December 16 1961, searching for him, he moved around, .19 Modise was assigned the task of appearing at different places at different In summary, Joe Modise’s role in carrying out one of the MK’s first times, meeting different people and agitating for a turn to armed struggle operations: “I led a group which issuing them their instructions.” and his work in the establishment of went to demolish the Kliptown Post Joe Modise was also deeply involved MK was best captured by what Nelson Office while Masondo led a group to in building the ANC’s underground Mandela said about him in 2001, hit the Meadowlands Administrative structures, a difficult task given that “I have had the privilege of a long offices. Both missions were carried ANC activists were accustomed to association with Joe Modise. In fact, out successfully and there were similar conducting their operations openly. my memories of him always serve to operations in all the major centres of Modise explains, “The art of conspiracy remind me of how I had to be educated our country.” Modise explains: was new to our people and there was out of political backwardness towards Because there were security a lot of carelessness as a result. People an understanding of political alliances. guards and occasionally a police had to be sent out of the country for Joe was almost always with me when officer in front of the target, one both political and military training.” He we set about opposing the communists of the members of the unit named personally arranged for and oversaw and breaking up their meetings. Then Tladi was assigned the task of Mandela’s transportation into exile already he was a fearless young man, making an opening for the unit to in 1962 as well as that of Raymond ever ready to do combat. Eventually enter from the back. After he had Mhlaba, Andrew Mlangeni, Joe Gqabi, we both progressed to realise who our done that, the unit went in: “I had and later on , and Chris true allies were.” Mandela goes further, a piece of clay which I used to Hani. Literally thousands of MK cadres “His name will remain synonymous position the explosive against the left South Africa through the “pipeline” with Umkhonto we Sizwe, on whose wall, whilst my comrade lit it with high command he served since its a burning cigarette by applying the formation… The role of Joe Modise cigarette tip to the fuse. As soon as Joe was almost in building MK, first underground at the fuse caught fire, sparks began always with me when home and later in exile, is well-known coming out and we knew it was to all with an interest in the history burning, we started towards the we set about opposing of our liberation. Today we come to fence rapidly… To our or surprise, the communists and salute a soldier, a commander, a hero we found the three minutes taking breaking up their of our struggle.” ■ too long, much longer than the three minutes that had been determined meetings. Then Bibliography by our instructors. I suppose this was 1 ‘Modise: a soldier and a gentleman’ - Tribute by already he was a Ronnie Kasrils, The Star, November 30, 2001. due to anxiety on our part because 2 Holland, H. (2012). 100 Years of Struggle – Mandela’s we started getting worried and fearless young man, ANC. South Africa: Penguin Books (Pty) Ltd. 3 ‘A 70th birthday tribute to Nelson Mandela’ by Joe thought that something might have ever ready to do Modise, the Army Commander of Umkhonto we gone wrong. We started asking one Sizwe’, Dawn, Vol. 1, No. 1, 1988. 4 's Memoirs, : Struik another what could have happened combat. Eventually Publications, 2005 (page 75). but, before we could finish, the 5 A 70th birthday tribute…, op cit we both progressed to 6 Mandela, N (1995). : The explosion took place. It was a big autobiography of Nelson Mandela. : Time realise who our true Warner Paperbacks, pp. 105 – 128. bang. I have never been so happy in 7 Interview with Michael Dingake, conducted by the Joe my life. I felt that the actual struggle allies were. Modise Foundation Liberation Heritage Project, 2018. 8 16 Interview with Michel Dingake. had begun. 9 South African History Online (2011, April 7). Treason After the December 16 operations and infrastructure that he set up, trial 1956-1961. 10 Ibid 17 Modise was incorporated into the High working with the likes of Fish Keitsing. 11 Joffe, J, & Mandela, N (2009). The state vs. Nelson Command of the MK, and ordered to In his biography The Backroom Boy, Mandela: The trial that changed South Africa. Richmond: Oneworld Publications, page 61. quit his job at PUTCO. He was then Andrew Mlangeni reveals that he was 12 Interview with Walter Sisulu, conducted by Philip Bonner and Barbara Harmel, Shell House, assigned the task of setting up Regional incorporated into the High Command Johannesburg, 1993, Wits History Workshop. Commands and smaller MK units to replace Joe Modise after Modise was 13 Interview with , conducted by Philip Bonner and Barbara Harmel, op cit Wits History around the country where they did not instructed to go into exile for military Workshop. already exist, while consolidating them training in 1963.18 The ANC had 14 Interview with Raymond Mlaba, conducted by Philip Bonner and Barbara Harmel, op cit in areas where they already existed. decided that Modise should leave the 15 Joe Modise, ‘The Happiest Moment in My Life’, The latter (consolidation of existing country for safety reasons as he had Dawn, souvenir issue (1986), p.10 16 Ibid units) became the major task in his new been added to the apartheid police’s 17 See Smith, J, & Tromp, B (2009, pp. 37 - 63). Hani: A life too short: A biography. Johannesburg: Jonathan mission because, according to Modise “most wanted” list. For his role as a Ball Publishers; and Gevisser, M (2009). A legacy of himself, “there were units already member of the High Command and for liberation: Thabo Mbeki and the future of the South African dream. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. initiated by Mandela in the areas that his involvement in the organisation of 18 Mandla Mathebula (2017), The Backroom Boy: I managed to reach. Mandela was truly MK activities and the execution of acts Andrew Mlangeni's Story, Wits University Press (page 114). committed. In spite of the fact that he of sabotage, Joe Modise was officially 19 Joffe, J, & Mandela, N. (2009), op cit

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