Mashudu Jonathan Mudau was born on 1 January 1953 at Mbaleni, Northern Transvaal (now Limpopo). He started his schooling at Makwarela Primary and passed standard 6 (Grade 8) in 1976. He then went to Makarela Secondary School where his political conscientiousness was shaped after becoming a member of South African Students Movement (SASM) during the 1976 uprisings.
Mudau was arrested after a Steve Biko commemoration in November 1977 and was subsequently charged and convicted of sabotage in 1978. He was sentenced to five years imprisonment to Robben Island
Mudau was in detention for at least a year before he was formally charged. He was released in 1982 and continued working in Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) underground structures with Dick Ralushai. He was later incorporated into the Nchabeleng unit in 1989 and was under the command of rear admiral Modimo and Major Maphawanya. His combat name was ‘Master’ and he remained an MK member until he was demobilised in 1995