South Africa during the apartheid was a land of division and strict rules. One of the most stringent laws was about race and relationships. People from different racial backgrounds were forbidden from forming romantic relationships. Violators were not just frowned upon; they faced severe punishments, including imprisonment. In this atmosphere of 1984, where officers would even spy on private homes to enforce these rules, Trevor was born.

His parents were a vivid illustration of how love can defy societal expectations. His father had white Dutch roots, while his mother was a black woman from the Xhosa tribe. Trevor's birth was not an act of love but a bold defiance of the established norms. It was a quiet yet profound challenge to the apartheid’s ideology. Trevor’s parents met in Johannesburg, an area inhabited by whites. Against all odds, they started a family.

But life for a mixed-race child in apartheid South Africa was not easy. Every day came with its unique set of challenges. One event stands out in highlighting the danger and prejudices of that time. One time, when their car malfunctioned, Trevor, his mother, and his infant brother took a minibus taxi for their commute. These taxis were notorious. They were often operated by gangs and were void of any official oversight.

On this day, the taxi driver was a Zulu man. He had strong prejudices, especially against Xhosa women he assumed were prostitutes. Seeing a Xhosa woman with a mixed-race child made it worse. As Trevor's mother and her children were the only passengers, she began to fear for their safety. The driver's behavior and driving made it clear he might try to harm or even kill them because of his biases. In a desperate move to save her family, Trevor's mother jumped out of the moving taxi with her children in her arms.

Though apartheid would end when Trevor was ten years old, the prejudices and violence didn't disappear. The scars and aftermath of this divisive period continued to shape the nation. It happened long after its official end. For Trevor and others, apartheid's end was a chapter in South Africa's complex story. The journey toward true equality and understanding was, and still is, a long one.