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 75
... whole state of affairs - Benzien's expression might be saying - what happened to you does not seem so bad . But for Kruser it is too much for flesh and feelings : that this experience , which has nearly destroyed his life , made not the ...
... whole state of affairs - Benzien's expression might be saying - what happened to you does not seem so bad . But for Kruser it is too much for flesh and feelings : that this experience , which has nearly destroyed his life , made not the ...
Page 84
... whole night in the house , apparently because he did not know what to do with the bodies ... Neighbours said they heard shots fired at night but they did not take any notice . After the shooting three men were seen leaving the scene in ...
... whole night in the house , apparently because he did not know what to do with the bodies ... Neighbours said they heard shots fired at night but they did not take any notice . After the shooting three men were seen leaving the scene in ...
Page 91
... whole evening sitting in your lounge waiting , gun in hand , like a bloody Voortrekker ! ' We both look at the gun . The barrel is rusted and spiders ' webs are dangling from it . We laugh . ' I don't even have bullets , ' he says . We ...
... whole evening sitting in your lounge waiting , gun in hand , like a bloody Voortrekker ! ' We both look at the gun . The barrel is rusted and spiders ' webs are dangling from it . We laugh . ' I don't even have bullets , ' he says . We ...
Contents
They Never Wept the Men of My Race | 1 |
None More Parted than Us | 14 |
First Hearings | 22 |
Copyright | |
22 other sections not shown
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Common terms and phrases
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
Bibliographic information
| Title | Country of My Skull |
| Author | Antjie Krog |
| Edition | reprint |
| Publisher | Jonathan Cape, 1999 |
| ISBN | 022405936X, 9780224059367 |
| Length | 286 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |