Country of My Skull: Guilt, Sorrow, and the Limits of Forgiveness in the New South Africa

The Epilogue, written a year after Country of My Skull received initial publication, looks at the final report of the TRC and the aftermath of the TRC finishing its work. Problems that arose during the TRC process continue after the final report, including lack of cooperation from the NP and ANC parties. F.W. de Klerk demands that authorities remove the information on him entirely. The ANC continues demanding special attention and attempts to stop the report going public with an interdict, claiming it should be able to see the report first, despite missing multiple deadlines for being able to do so. Blacks in South Africa remain divided: “[O]ne black caller after another says: I vote ANC, but they have made a mistake” (370), while others say: “The ANC has fought a just war and therefore could not have committed gross human-rights violations” (370).

Much of the country, Krog included, feels disheartened by what seems like a complete failure of the TRC. The unity that inspired Krog is gone, though she is relieved that Mandela and Tutu have come out on the other side still clean, and still persevering. None of the political parties fully accept the TRC’s final report, with many condemning it and the process as a whole.