Wessel Johannes "Hansie" Cronje was born in Bloemfontein on 25 September 1969 to Ewie and San-Marie Cronje. He attended Grey College in Bloemfontein, a prestigious private boy’s school. Hansie graduated as the head of his class after completing his matriculation in 1987.

An excellent all-round sportsperson, he represented the Free State (then Orange Free State) at cricket and rugby at schools level. His father Ewie had played for Orange Free State in the 1960s, and Hansie's older brother Frans had also played first-class cricket.

Judge Erns Jansen was born in Pietermaritzburg on 27 June 1918.  He was the son of Ernest Jansen, Minister of Native Affairs in the National Party government and Governor-General of the Union of South Africa. While he was born into the Afrikaner aristocracy, he never became a Broederbond member and remained apolitical.

Nontetha Nkwenkwe is one of the most remarkable female religious leaders associated with independent churches in the 1920s. Born in King Williamstown in 1875, Nontetha was married with ten children. Her migrant labourer husband died, leaving her to fend for her children. Following the outbreak of the influenza epidemic in 1918, Nontetha believed that she was spared for a divine purpose. And in undertaking her work as first a seer, then a diviner, and ultimately a prophet, her life was changed dramatically.

Moses Mphahlele was the Secretary of the African National Congress (ANC) in the Transvaal during the 1920s, he was born in Pietersburg and received his education at Kilnerton, where he graduated with a teacher's certificate. He taught for some time, then became an interpreter. Skota describes him as a political protégé of S. M. Makgatho.

Born in 1926, Joseph Mpoza was shop assistant. He played a leading role in Worcester strikes and trade union campaigns.

Born in 1928, Temba D. A. Mqota was a student. He joined the African National Congress in 1946 and supported the Indian struggle against the "Ghetto" Act. He was also prominent in organising the Laundry Workers' Union in Port Elizabeth.

Joined African National Congress in 1946 and supported the Indian struggle against the "Ghetto" Act. Prominent in organising the Laundry Workers' Union in Port Elizabeth.

Bheki Mvulane died in detention on 29 March, 1985. A fellow-detainee of Mvulane said:

"I saw a white policeman in Katlehong Police Station fling Bheki against the wall, and when he crashed on the floor another officer trampled him on the head. He collapsed and never gained consciousness."

Sipho Samuel Charles Hashe was born in Middledrift, Ngcabasa Village (Eastern Cape) in 1934. He relocated to Port Elizabeth in the 1950s.  During this period he became a member of the African National Congress (ANC) and Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) in the 1950s and 1960s. When the ANC was banned in 1961, he became an underground operative until he was arrested in 1962 for his political activities and charged with sabotage.

David Rabkin was born in South Africa, but emigrated to Britain with his family. He holds a PhD in African Literature and had been employed as a sub-editor at the Cape Argus newspaper at the time of his, and his wife, Susan’s arrest on 28 July 1978.

One of the first-string accused in the Treason Trial of 1956-1961, Selepe was born in 1919 and served in the South African army in World War II, attaining the rank of sergeant. He was a member of the Springbok Legion and of the African National Congress.