Xhosa, Zulu: “Spear of the Nation” (Show more) Date: December 16, 1961 - August 1990 (Show more) Areas Of Involvement: apartheid (Show more) Related People: Thenjiwe Mtintso Nelson Mandela Kgalema Motlanthe Chris Hani (Show more) Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), was the paramilitary wing of the African National Congress (ANC) from 1961 until 1993. Founded by Nelson Mandela and others, Umkhonto we Sizwe (commonly abbreviated MK) carried out waves of sabotage and guerrilla attacks against South Africa’s apartheid government, which sanctioned racial segregation and discrimination against nonwhites in the country. MK suspended its activities in 1990 amid negotiations between the government and the ANC as apartheid measures were gradually being repealed, and it was officially disbanded on December 16, 1993. (For coverage of the similarly named South African political party, which was formed in 2023 and ...(100 of 742 words) Access the full article Help support true facts by becoming a member. Subscribe today!