FOMER defence minister Joe Modise, who retired from politics prior to the June general elections, has joined the Labat Africa group as non-executive chairman, the company said on Sunday. The black-owned and managed services group which listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in June, said Modise, as non-executive chairman, would not be involved in the day to day running of the company. Another former minister in the cabinet of Nelson Mandela, Mac Maharaj, announced earlier this month that he has taken up a directorship at a leading commercial and merchant bank, First Rand Bank.