“It was very difficult because my parents were anti-apartheid activists." 

-- Carel Pretorius                           

Carel's father was highly educated. He got a PHD at a very young age during his time in Europe, however he could not get any good positions in his field because of his political views. He was very anti-apartheid. While white men in South Africa had little difficulty finding opportunities due to apartheid, Hennie's active role fighting against it made it nearly impossible for him to get a job to make a living. He ended up working in an Independant Home Land, which was a territory that the National Party administration of South Africa set aside for black inhabitants of South Africa. It was one aspect of the apartheid policy.