John Jacques William Aitchison was born to Harold Aitchison and Phyllis Jacques, in Durban, Natal (now kwaZulu-Natal) on 2 June 1944. He was brought up by his grandparents as his mother passed away a few days after he was born.

Aitchison grew up in Durban where he attended the Durban Prepartory High School for his primary education and Durban High School for Secondary education. He then went to Pietermaritzburg to study at the University of Natal and remained in Pietermaritzburg until relocating to Durban in 2011. 

Job Shimankana Tabane (largely known as Cassius Make, his alias name) was born in Maile village (Diepkuil) just outside Rustenburg on 6 December 1942. Tabane began his primary education in 1949 at Diepkuil Primary School and had to balance his school work with tending his grandfather’s cattle.  At the age of 12 he left his paternal home in Mosenthal and enrolled for Standard two at Tweetepoort Bantu School where he studied until completing Standard five in 1956.

Leo Linda Sihlali was born on 9 September 1915 in Butterworth. He went to primary school in Tarkastad where his mother worked as a teacher. On completion he went to Lovedale to commence his secondary school education. Sihlali then enrolled at the University of Fort Hare for his tertiary education, and also later received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Africa (UNISA).

Abdul Samad Minty was born on 31 October 1933 in Hartebeesfontein, Northern Transvaal (now known as Limpopo Province). Minty grew up in Johannesburg where he completed his schooling. He left South Africa in June 1958, for Britain, to further his studies.

Following widespread resistance, the Native Affairs Department (NAD) was forced to abolish the Bapedi tribal authority because of a lack of support.  This led to the suspension of Paramount Chief Sekhukhune as Regent for a month and Lot Kgagudi Maredi and Kgagudi Marutanyane were banished from Geluks Location, Sekhukhuneland, Lydenburg District, Transvaal [now Lydenburg, Mpumalanga]in November 1957.

Jack Monamudi Matsepe’s banishment appears to be linked to the Maleuskop between Groblersdal [Limpopo Province] and Middelburg [Mpumalanga] to Tafelkop relocation and conflict*.  His banishment documentation noted thatthere wasconsiderable unreston thefarm Tafelkop in the Groblersdal District, which was believed to be initiated by ‘leftist elements.’  It had already led to the death of Lucas Scott, a ‘Bantu Information Assistant’ in the Department of Information.

Gilbert R Tsikalanga was headman in the Mphaphuli Tribal area, Sibasa District, [Northern] Transvaal, [now Tshivhase, Limpopo Province]

He was relieved of his duties due to his insistence on becoming the chief, for agitating against the incumbent chief and the headman, and for causing serious divisions in the community.

He was banished on 3 June 1969 to Ardath Farm No.  Ku.C.O. 5-33, Kuruman District, [Northern] Cape, [now North West Province]

 Gilbert R Tsikalanga’s order was withdrawn on 30 September 1976.

Foko Mbata’s banishment documentation claimed that he led the Mbata clan and that they had attacked and killed people in the Hlazakazi area [Natal, now KwaZulu-Natal].  It went on to claim that the violence had caused the Ngobese clan move away from area.  It was also alleged that the Mbata clan wished the chief to resign so that Foko Mbata could take up his place, since they had conquered the area, and that no arrests could be made, as everyone was afraid of Mbata and refused to give testimony.

According to documentation related to his banishment order, in 1965, after the death of Chief Zombizwe, Ntunja Mngomezulu was appointed chief of the Mngomezulu community in the Ingwavuma district, Natal [now KwaZulu-Natal], after which unrest followed.

An inquiry found that Ntunja was not the rightful heir.  Ntunja fled to Swaziland and had since then terrorized the community from his base in Swaziland.  There was an attack on the chief, which left him paralysed for life.