A colossal figure amongst South African choral music composers and directors, Professor James Steven* Mzilikazi Khumalo was born on 20 June 1932 on the Salvation Army farm, kwaNgwelu (known as Mountain View in English), in the Vryheid district of Natal (now KwaZulu-Natal), where his parents – Andreas and Johanna Khumalo – were Salvation Army minister trainees. His parents were deeply religious and instilled this into their son who remained a staunch Christian throughout his life.

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.