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. |
From inside the book
Results 1-3 of 61
Page 60
... body language . The wink of an eye , the nod of a head , could spell someone's end . Dirk Coetzee has often been ... body gave a short jerk ... ' Coetzee is an expert on banal statistics . ' The burning of a body on an open fire ...
... body language . The wink of an eye , the nod of a head , could spell someone's end . Dirk Coetzee has often been ... body gave a short jerk ... ' Coetzee is an expert on banal statistics . ' The burning of a body on an open fire ...
Page 63
... body in a plan- tation near a platteland town spelled trouble . Coetzee , who was on his way to oversee the murder of lawyer Griffiths Mxenge in Durban , rushed back to Lind- ley that same night . They put the body in a funeral parlour's ...
... body in a plan- tation near a platteland town spelled trouble . Coetzee , who was on his way to oversee the murder of lawyer Griffiths Mxenge in Durban , rushed back to Lind- ley that same night . They put the body in a funeral parlour's ...
Page 248
... body : ' Stompie Seipei's body had lain in the heat for five days before it was discovered and was infested with maggots . The corpse had been that of a small boy , four and a half feet tall . The brain had turned to liquid , the skin ...
... body : ' Stompie Seipei's body had lain in the heat for five days before it was discovered and was infested with maggots . The corpse had been that of a small boy , four and a half feet tall . The brain had turned to liquid , the skin ...
Contents
They Never Wept the Men of My Race | 1 |
None More Parted than Us | 14 |
First Hearings | 22 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
ADV NTSEBEZA Afrikaner Alex Boraine amnesty amnesty applications Amnesty Committee Apartheid Archbishop asked become Benzien blood body boers Boraine Botha Bram Bram Fischer called Cape Casspir Chairperson child Commissioners crying death Dirk Coetzee door Eastern Cape eyes face father feel forgive front guilt hand happened head heard hearing Hechter honour human rights Johannesburg journalists kill Klerk lawyer leader Lekotse Lesotho live look Madikizela-Mandela Mamasela Mandela Mbeki Michael Lapsley morning mother murder National Party Nelson Mandela never night Nomonde P.W. Botha past person police policemen political politicians radio reconciliation remember Robben Island SABC says Seipei shot Sibaya someone South African stand Steve Biko Stompie story submission talk tell things told took torture town Truth Commission Tutu victims Vlakplaas voice walk wife Winnie Winnie Madikizela-Mandela woman words Xhosa