Joe Modise

Johannes "Joe" Modise (May 23, 1929, Doornfontein - November 26, 2001) was a South African political figure. He helped to found Umkhonto we Sizwe, the military wing of the African National Congress, and served as South Africa's first black Minister of Defence from 1994 to 1999.

As a truck driver from Alexandra, Gauteng, he became interested in the struggle against apartheid at an early age. He at first chose only non-violent means, being arrested with Nelson Mandela and 154 and tried for treason. All were acquitted. After the South African government chose more and more violent means to suppress the activists in the 1960s, Modise became a guerrilla fighter. He organized resistance groups and trained many other guerrilla fighters. Modise became the Chief of Staff of Umkhonto we Sizwe ("MK").

But by 1990, Modise and other representatives of the African National Congress met with the white government. When Mandela was elected President in 1994, he chose Modise as his Defense Minister. Modise was charged with integrating the many sects of guerrilla fighter into the regular army, which had all white officers. This potentially incendiary situation went relatively smoothly, and the army was fully integrated by 1999.

Controversy arose during his term when he was criticized for conflicts of interest in awarding lucrative arms contracts. His role in the alleged bribing of South African officials and politicians by European arms companies is still unclear. At present investigations are being carried out by German, British, and South African prosecutors into what is becoming an increasingly complex and far-reaching web of corruption. Prominent ANC members including Modise, former South African President Thabo Mbeki, and ANC President Jacob Zuma are among those believed to have benefited directly from the deals[1].

Modise was awarded the Gold Grand Cross, South Africa's highest civilian honor. Modise died of cancer in Pretoria at the age of 72.

He married Jackie Sedibe, former MK chief of communications and first SANDF female general.

Preceded by
Kobie Coetsee		 Minister of Defence (South Africa)
May 11, 1994–June 17, 1996		 Succeeded by
Mosiuoa Lekota

References

  1. ^ What is Mbeki trying to hide? - The Times - Retrieved on 2008-11-26

External links

Pre-Apartheid (1910-1948)
Smuts • Mentz • Creswell • Pirow • Smuts (as Prime Minister)
Apartheid-era (1948-1994)
Erasmus • Fouché • Botha • Malan • Meyer • Louw • Coetsee
Post-Apartheid (1994-present)
Ministers of Nelson Mandela's first government (1994-1996)
Deputy Presidents
Ministers
Kraai van Niekerk (Agriculture) • Ben Ngubane (Arts and Culture) • Pallo Jordan (Communications) • Roelf Meyer (1994-1996) / Chris Fismer (1996) (Constitutional Development and Provincial Affairs) • Sipo Mzimela (Correctional Services) • Joe Modise (Defence) • Sibusiso Bengu (Education) • Dawid de Villiers (Environmental Affairs and Tourism) • Derek Keys (1994) / Chris Liebenberg (1994-1996) (Finance) • Alfred Nzo (Foreign Affairs) • John Mavuso (1996) (General Services) • Nkosazana Zuma (Health) • Mangosuthu Buthelezi (Home Affairs) • Joe Slovo (1994-1995) / Sankie Mtembi-Nkondo (1995-1996) (Housing) • Dullah Omar (Justice) • Tito Mboweni (Labour) • Derek Hanekom (Land Affairs) • Pik Botha (Minerals and Energy) • Stella Sigcau (Public Enterprises) • Zola Skweyiya (Public Service and Administration) • Jeff Radebe (Public Works) • Sydney Mufamadi (Safety and Security) • Steve Tshwete (Sport and Recreation) • Jay Naidoo (1994-1996) (The Presidency) • Trevor Manuel (Trade and Industry) • Mac Maharaj (Transport) • Kader Asmal (Water Affairs and Forestry) • Abe Williams (1994-1996) / Patrick McKenzie (1996) (Welfare)
Ministers of Nelson Mandela's second government (1996-1999)
Deputy President
Ministers
Derek Hanekom (Agriculture and Land Affairs) • Ben Ngubane (1996-1997, 1999) / Lionel Mtshali (1997-1999) (Arts and Culture) • Jay Naidoo (Communications) • Mohammed Valli Moosa (Constitutional Development and Provincial Affairs) • Sipo Mzimela (1996-1998) / Ben Skosana (1998-1999) (Correctional Services) • Joe Modise (Defence) • Sibusiso Bengu (Education) • Pallo Jordan (Environmental Affairs and Tourism) • Trevor Manuel (Finance) • Alfred Nzo (Foreign Affairs) • Nkosazana Zuma (Health) • Mangosuthu Buthelezi (Home Affairs) • Sankie Mtembi-Nkondo (Housing) • Dullah Omar (Justice) • Tito Mboweni (1996-1998) / Membathisi Mdladlana (1998-1999) (Labour) • Penuell Maduna (Minerals and Energy) • Stella Sigcau (Public Enterprises) • Zola Skweyiya (Public Service and Administration) • Jeff Radebe (Public Works) • Sydney Mufamadi (Safety and Security) • Steve Tshwete (Sport and Recreation) • Gert Johannes Gerwel (The Presidency) • Alec Erwin (Trade and Industry) • Mac Maharaj (Transport) • Kader Asmal (Water Affairs and Forestry) • Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi (Welfare)