Zuleikha Mayat was born in 1926 in Potchefstroom, Transvaal (now North West Province). Her father, Mohamed Bismilla, was a prominent business person who first came to South Africa from India at the age of five with his stepmother. Her mother, Amina, was also from India. Growing up, Mayat and her siblings’ lives revolved around their parent’s shop, which was very popular within the community. Later, Mayat would attribute her caring nature to her father, who generously never turned away a customer even if they were short of cash.

Inner page of a playbill for the single production of two scenes from Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part I by political prisoners in Pretoria Local Prison whom the authorities allowed to put on - New Year's Eve, 1966 - Paul Trewhela