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The Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Selected Contemporary South African Novels“

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The Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Selected Contemporary South African Novels“ DIPLOMARBEIT Titel der Diplomarbeit „The Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Selected Contemporary South African Novels“ Verfasserin Sophia Oester angestrebter akademischer Grad Magistra der Philosophie (Mag.phil.) Wien, 2014 Studienkennzahl lt. Studienblatt: A 190 344 353 Studienrichtung lt. Studienblatt: UF Englisch UF Spanisch Betreuer: Univ.-Prof. DDr. Ewald Mengel DANKESWORTE Zu Beginn möchte ich all jenen, die mir im Bezug auf diese Arbeit eine große Hilfe waren und ohne die sie wohl nie zustande gekommen wäre, meinen herzlichen Dank aussprechen. Mein Dank geht an Dr. Dobrota Pucherova, die erstmals mein Interesse an Afrikanischer Literatur geweckt hat, so wie ganz besonders an Univ.-Prof. DDr. Ewald Mengel für die exzellente und unkomplizierte Betreuung meiner Arbeit, seine Anregungen, Beratung und schnelles und detailliertes Feedback, welches mir als besonderer Luxus erschien. Herzlich bedanken möchte ich mich bei meiner Familie, vor allem bei meinen Eltern für all ihre Unterstützung und Ermutigung seit meiner Geburt und besonders während meiner Studienzeit, sowie bei meinem Bruder, dessen ehrliche Kritik und nahezu unerschöpfliche Hilfsbereitschaft ich unglaublich schätze. Unendlich dankbar bin ich auch meinen Freundinnen und Freunden, die mein Leben auf so vielfältige Art und Weise bereichern. Ein besonderes Dankeschön all jenen, die mir während der Schreibphase dieser Arbeit mit Rat und Tat zur Seite gestanden sind, meine oftmalige Verzagtheit geduldig ertragen und mir in den unzähligen Bibliotheksstunden Gesellschaft geleistet haben, was diese zu kostbaren Erinnerungen werden hat lassen. Dankbar bin ich auch Amy Orr-Ewing, MA, deren Bücher und Vorträge mir eine große Hilfe in der persönlichen Auseinandersetzung mit den Fragen nach Recht, Unrecht, Schuld und Wahrheit waren, die diese Arbeit aufwarf. Vor allen andern jedoch, gilt mein Dank dem Gott der Bibel, „der mich geliebt und sein Leben für mich gegeben hat“ (Die Bibel, Galater 2,20) und dem ich alles verdanke. Table of Contents 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 1 2. The South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission ................................................ 2 2.1 Background: The transition from apartheid to majority rule ....................................... 2 2.2 Purpose ........................................................................................................................ 7 2.3 Way of proceeding ....................................................................................................... 9 2.4 Outcomes and consequences ..................................................................................... 12 2.5 Critique ...................................................................................................................... 13 3. Testimony, Truth and the Novel ...................................................................................... 17 3.1 The TRC's understanding of Truth ............................................................................ 17 3.2 The role of testimony in the proceedings of the TRC ............................................... 19 3.3 Testimony, narration and the novel after the TRC .................................................... 27 4. Research questions ........................................................................................................... 30 5. Jann Turner: Southern Cross ............................................................................................ 31 5.1 Summary .................................................................................................................... 31 5.2 The Role of the TRC ................................................................................................. 32 5.2.1 References to the real-life TRC .......................................................................... 32 5.2.2 Metaphors and comparisons used to describe the TRC ..................................... 33 5.2.3 The TRC as a place of emotional catharsis ........................................................ 34 5.2.4 The TRC as a place of acknowledgement and a turning point in South African history………. .................................................................................................................. 35 5.2.5 The TRC and the absence of truth-telling .......................................................... 36 5.3 Attitudes and expectations towards the Commission ................................................ 37 5.4 Southern Cross as part of an international discourse on Truth and Justice ............... 39 5.4.1 Spying and betrayal - Exploring unacknowledged topics .................................. 39 5.4.2 Challenging and doubling TRC’s rhetoric speaking Truth to Reconciliation and national healing ................................................................................................................ 41 5.4.3 Competing with the TRC by revealing more truth than the Commission .......... 43 5.4.4 The processes of telling and learning Truth ....................................................... 44 5.4.5 International dimension ...................................................................................... 44 5.4.6 Ambiguity and complexity ................................................................................. 47 6. Carel van der Merwe: No Man’s Land ............................................................................. 51 6.1 Summary .................................................................................................................... 51 6.2 The Role of the TRC ................................................................................................. 52 6.2.1 The transcript of the amnesty hearing ................................................................ 52 6.2.2 Metaphors and comparisons used to describe the TRC ..................................... 53 6.2.3 The TRC hearing as a place of acknowledgement and a turning point in the protagonist’s life ............................................................................................................... 54 6.2.4 The TRC as a place of encounter between victims’ relatives and perpetrators . 55 6.2.5 The TRC and truth-telling .................................................................................. 58 6.3 Attitudes and expectations towards the Commission ................................................ 60 6.4 No Man’s Land as part of an international discourse on Truth and Justice ............... 63 6.4.1 Challenging and doubling the TRC’s rhetoric of speaking Truth to Reconciliation and national healing ................................................................................. 63 6.4.2 Competing with the TRC by revealing more truth than the Commission .......... 65 6.4.3 The processes of telling and learning Truth ....................................................... 65 6.4.4 International dimension ...................................................................................... 68 6.4.5 Ambiguity and complexity ................................................................................. 69 7. Gillian Slovo: Red Dust .................................................................................................... 71 7.1 Summary .................................................................................................................... 71 7.2 The Role of the TRC ................................................................................................. 72 7.2.1 References to the real-life TRC .......................................................................... 72 7.2.2 Metaphors and comparisons used to describe the TRC ..................................... 74 7.2.3 The TRC as a place of encounter between the victim and perpetrator............... 76 7.2.4 The TRC as a place of recalling and re-enacting the past .................................. 80 7.2.5 The TRC and the absence of truth-telling .......................................................... 83 7.3 Attitudes and Expectations towards the Commission ............................................... 85 7.4 Red Dust as part of an international Discourse of Truth and Justice ......................... 88 7.4.1 Loyalty and Betrayal - Exploring unacknowledged topics ................................ 88 7.4.2 Challenging and doubling TRC’s rhetoric speaking Truth to Reconciliation and national healing ................................................................................................................ 89 7.4.3 Competing with the TRC by revealing more truth than the Commission .......... 91 7.4.4 The processes of telling and learning Truth ....................................................... 92 7.4.5 International dimension ...................................................................................... 94 7.4.6 Ambiguity and complexity ................................................................................. 95 8. Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 96 9. References ...................................................................................................................... 101 9.1 Primary Sources ....................................................................................................... 101 9.2 Secondary Literature ...............................................................................................
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