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.

Joseph Nong “Joe” Thloloe was born on 01 July 1942 in Orlando East, Soweto to Nokuthula and Joel Letebele Thloloe. He began his primary school education at Law Palmer Primary School and upon completion went to Orlando High School. It was here that he was instructed by teachers who were politically inclined and abhorred the system of Apartheid, like Ellen Kuzwayo and Thamsanqa Kambule.

Aaron Sipho Madondo, the last of 11 children in his family was born on 6 August 1958 in Mofolo South, Soweto.  He began his primary school education at Gugu Lower Primary and later moved to Fred Clark Higher Primary in Soweto. He passed Standard Six with a first class pass, the only learner in his school to do so. After completing his primary school education Madondo went to Hlengiwe High School.