The birth of the African National Congress’ armed wing, uMkhonto weSizwe ("Spear of the Nation") was a contested one. With large numbers of freedom fighters and, very little arms – Nelson Mandela’s comrades believed that the liberation movement, which sought to free South Africans from the damning grip of the Apartheid government, was a suicide mission. Only after much persuading, on the 16th December 1961, Nelson Mandela and his comrades formed “MK” and made the decision to take up arms in the fight for the dejected people of the country – a turning point in South African history. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.