UMkhonto we Sizwe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids uMkhonto we Sizwe
Leaders	Nelson Mandela Oliver Tambo Walter Sisulu Govan Mbeki Joe Slovo Lennox Lagu Joe Modise Chris Hani Raymond Mhlaba Moses Mabhida Ronnie Kasrils Isaac Lesiba Maphotho Siphiwe Nyanda Godfrey Ngwenya
Dates of operation	1961–1993
Allegiance	ANC SACP
Ideology	Communism Marxism–Leninism Left-wing nationalism Pan-Africanism Anti-apartheid
Political position	Far-left
Allies	Algeria  Angola  Cuba  Libya Palestine Liberation Organisation  Mozambique  Zimbabwe
Opponents	South Africa  Rhodesia
Designated as a terrorist group by	South Africa

uMkhonto we Sizwe (Xhosa pronunciation: [uˈmkʰonto we ˈsizwe], meaning "Spear of the Nation"; abbreviated MK) was the paramilitary wing of the African National Congress (ANC), and was founded by Nelson Mandela in the wake of the Sharpeville massacre. Its mission was to fight against the South African government.

After warning the South African government in June 1961 of its intent to resist further acts of government-instituted terror if the government did not take steps toward constitutional reform and increase political rights, uMkhonto we Sizwe launched its first attacks against government installations on 16 December 1961. It was subsequently classified as a terrorist organisation by the South African government, and banned.

For a time it was headquartered in Rivonia, then rural but now an affluent suburb of Johannesburg. On 11 July 1963, 19 ANC and uMkhonto we Sizwe leaders, including Arthur Goldreich and Walter Sisulu, were arrested at Liliesleaf Farm, Rivonia. The farm was privately owned by Arthur Goldreich and bought with South African Communist Party and ANC funds, as non-whites were unable to own a property in that area under the Group Areas Act. This was followed by the Rivonia Trial, in which 10 leaders of the ANC were tried for 221 militant acts designed to "foment violent revolution". Wilton Mkwayi, chief of uMkhonto we Sizwe at the time, escaped during trial.

The organisation was formally disbanded in a ceremony at Orlando Stadium in Soweto, Gauteng, on 16 December 1993, although the armed struggle had been suspended earlier, during the negotiations to end apartheid.

Organizational Command Structure (1961–1964)

In the six or so months between making the decision to form the organisation (June) and the first acts of sabotage (December), the MK high command set up regional commands in the main centres. The people chosen to be part of these commands were chosen either because they had the necessary technical or military skills or because they were members of the Congress Alliance organisations.

Central (Overall) Command

• Nelson Mandela
• Walter Sisulu
• Joe Slovo
• Raymond Mhlaba (from 1962)
• Wilton Mkwayi (from 1963)

Johannesburg (later Transvaal) Command

• Jack Hodgson
• Ahmed Kathrada
• Denis Goldberg
• Arthur Goldreich

Natal Command

• Curnick Ndlovu
• Ronnie Kasrils (from 1963)

Western Cape Command

• Looksmart Ngudle
• Fred Carneson

Eastern Cape Command

• Vuyisile Mini

Border Command

• Washington Bongco

Explosives Command

• Jack Hodgson
• Harold Strachan (from 1962)

Ex-Officio Commanders

• Lambert Moloi (from 1964)
• Joe Modise (from 1964)
• Tom Sebina (from 1964)

Notable members

In addition to co-founder Nelson Mandela, notable members include:

Number of deaths

South African police statistics indicate that, in the period 1976 to 1986, approximately 130 people were killed by guerrillas. Of these, about thirty were members of various security forces and one hundred were civilians. Of the civilians, 40 were white and 60 black. In turn, around 11+ ANC members were killed in cross-border raids by the SADF.

Awards

The following medals and awards, some with post-nominal titles, were retrospectively defined and awarded to members of MK:

• Conspicuous Leadership Star (CLS)
• Decoration for Merit (Gold) (DMG)
• Merit Medal (Silver) (MMS)
• Merit Medal (Bronze) (MMB)
• Service Medal (Gold)
• Service Medal (Silver)
• Service Medal (Bronze)
• South Africa Service Medal
• Star for Bravery (Gold) (SBG)
• Star for Bravery (Silver) (SBS)
• Operational Medal for Southern Africa

See also

• Day of Reconciliation
• Internal resistance to apartheid
• South African Border War
• Military history of South Africa