Nellie Jibiliza was born in 1926 to parents who were African National Congress (ANC) activists in Cape Town. Thus, she grew up in a politically active household and began attending Communist Party of South Africa (CPSA) gatherings in 1942, later joined the organisation. This background inspired her deep involvement in politics.

Barasarthi Naidoo, the eldest son of Thambi and Veerammal Naidoo, was born on 22 December 1903. At a farewell banquet for Mohandas (Mahatma) Karamchand Gandhi on 14 July 1914, (Gandhi was returning to India), Thambi Naidoo offered his four sons [Naransamy, Barasarthi, Balakrishnan and Pakirisamy] to Gandhi, saying, “I have the honour to present these four boys to be servants of India”.

Narainsamy Pillay, the brother of Veerammal Naidoo, was jailed in November and December 1908 for brief terms with hard labour due to hawking without a licence. He was sentenced twice in 1909 to three months with hard labour. 

Coopoosamy, the eldest son of Thambi and Veerammal Naidoo, was sentenced in 1909 to seven days with hard labour for hawking without licence.

Lex Mpati was born in Durban. His maternal grandparents were from the Fort Beaufort, Eastern Cape, and this is where his parents sent him when he was a baby. He attended the St Joseph’s Catholic School in Fort Beaufort until Grade 8, walking 5km a day to get to and from school. Before and after school, Mpati herded the small herd of cattle his family owned with his cousins.

William Maxajana (alias Max Thomas) was banned under the Suppression of Communism Act.

Detained during the 1960 State of Emergency. Banned under the Suppression of Communism Act. Prohibited from attending gatherings. Forbidden from entering any factory or educational premises. To report at the local police station once a week.

Phindile Fethi was a former Trade Unionist with the National Union of Textile Workers and Secretary of International Aid Society (IAS). He was detained from 10 May 1976 to 16 May 1977 in terms of the Terrorism Act and then was restricted to Germiston, Transvaal (now Gauteng). 

June 1982. Banned for two years under the Internal Security Act.

L. B. Mokele, General Secretary of Mooiplaas Squatters Association, Eastern Transvaal (now Mpumalanga) was threatened in a letter that he would be named or listed if continued with his Communist activities.