Country of My SkullEver since Nelson Mandela dramatically walked out of prison in 1990 after twenty-seven years behind bars, South Africa has been undergoing a radical transformation. In one of the most miraculous events of the century, the oppressive system of apartheid was dismantled. But how could this country - one of spectacular beauty and promise - come to terms with its ugly past? How could its people, whom the oppressive white government had pitted against one another, live side by side as friends and neighbors? To begin the healing process, Nelson Mandela created the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, headed by the renowned cleric Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Established in 1995, the commission faced the awesome task of hearing the testimony of the victims of apartheid as well as the oppressors. In this book, Antjie Krog, a South African journalist and poet who has covered the work of the commission, recounts the drama, the horrors, the wrenching personal stories of the victims and their families. Through the testimonies of victims of abuse and violence, from the appearance of Winnie Mandela to former South African president P.W. Botha's extraordinary courthouse press conference, this award-winning poet leads us on an amazing journey. |
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Page 99
... Robben Island : What do we do with the language of the boere ? And I also wonder : is it better to have a leader like Verwoerd mesmerizing a people to do the wrong thing blindly ? Or is it better to have a De Klerk , doing the right ...
... Robben Island : What do we do with the language of the boere ? And I also wonder : is it better to have a leader like Verwoerd mesmerizing a people to do the wrong thing blindly ? Or is it better to have a De Klerk , doing the right ...
Page 159
... Robben Island and Khayelitsha , a Truth Commission hear- ing is a must - see . But since the hearings are held in such obscure places , a visit to Tutu is the next - best thing . Either the whole of Milnerton is paralyzed as Al Gore's ...
... Robben Island and Khayelitsha , a Truth Commission hear- ing is a must - see . But since the hearings are held in such obscure places , a visit to Tutu is the next - best thing . Either the whole of Milnerton is paralyzed as Al Gore's ...
Page 277
... island was a special experience - the his- tory of this place , the ghosts who are moving around here . Robben Island has always been a place of reconciliation . And we said we wanted to be open to God - I think God surprised us . It ...
... island was a special experience - the his- tory of this place , the ghosts who are moving around here . Robben Island has always been a place of reconciliation . And we said we wanted to be open to God - I think God surprised us . It ...
Contents
They Never Wept the Men of My Race | 1 |
None More Parted than Us | 14 |
First Hearings | 22 |
Copyright | |
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Afrikaner already amnesty answer Apartheid asked become blood body Botha bring busy called changed child coming Commissioners Committee crying death don't door eyes face fact father feel fire force four front give Government hall hand happened head heard hearing heart honour human it's journalists keep kill kind later leader leave live look Mamasela Mandela means months morning mother murder never night offices Party past person police political questions reconciliation remember responsibility says shot someone sound South African speak stand started Stompie stop story taken talk tell things thought told took town Truth Commission turned Tutu victims voice waiting walk week whole wife woman wrong