William Henry Beaumont was born in India on 24 February 1851. His father was a Lieutenant Colonel of the 23rd Madras Light Infantry. Beaumont attended Sherbourne and Sandhurst Military College and after completing his studies joined the 75^th (Stirlingshire) Regiment. He was commissioned to the rank of Ensign in 1870 and promoted to Lieutenant in 1871. Later that year he arrived in Natal with his regiment. In 1873 he served as a private secretary to the Administrator of Natal, Lt. Col. Thomas Milles.

Jacob Koti Dikobo was born on 22 April 1962 in the village of Bataung (Makgophong) in Zebediela, Limpopo, where he also grew up. He went to Khureng Primary School and then moved to Batung (Ramasondi) Primary School where he completed his primary school education.