On the political side , the PMC hierarchy consisted of a political committee chaired by Joe Jele , with Mac Maharaj as secretary . The newly created military headquarters was commanded by Joe Modise ( Commander in Chief ) , deputised by Chris Hani , who was also MK political commissar . Third in the military hierarchy was Joe Slovo , who was Chief of Staff . The ANC 's security and intelligence organ , Nat , headed by Mzwai Piliso , was also represented on the PMC MK , under Modise and Hani 's command participated in the 1983 bombing of Church Street , in Pretoria near the South African Air Force Headquarters , resulting in 19 deaths and 217 injuries . During the next 10 years , the people 's army conducted a series of bombings the country including the 1985 Amanzimtoti bombing on the Natal South Coast where five civilians were killed and 40 were injured . The attack was conducted by MK cadre , Andrew Sibusiso Zondo who detonated an explosive in a rubbish bin at a shopping centre shortly before Christmas . In a submission to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission ( TRC ) , the ANC stated that Zondo 's act , though " understandable " as a response to a recent South African Defence Force raid in Lesotho , was not in line with ANC policy . Zondo was subsequently executed . In the 1986 Durban beach-front bombing , a bomb was detonated in a bar , killing three civilians and injuring 69 . Robert McBride received the death penalty for this bombing which became known as the " Magoo 's Bar bombing " . The subsequent Truth and Reconciliation Committee called the bombing a " gross violation of human rights " . 13 McBride received amnesty and became a senior police officer . Other attacks carried out by MK include the 1987 attacks on courts in Johannesburg , Newcastle , a bank in Roodepoort ( 1988 ) , Ellis Park rugby stadium ( car bomb ) and several others which resulted in multiple casualties
Amanzimtoti bombing
Amanzimtoti bombing
Joe Modise