Skin Has 'Poignant Power'

Leader's writings released in new memoir

(NEWSER) - Nelson Mandela sat in a prison cell for 27 years, alone and separated from his family, with not much more to do than write—waves of words documenting his anguish that are now being released in a new memoir, Conversations With Myself. Some excerpts, as per the BBC:

• To wife Winnie Mandela, he wrote in 1969 that his main problem was "my waking up without you close to me, the passing of the day without my having seen you."
• To his daughters, aged 9 and 10, as both he and Winnie were imprisoned in 1969: "Now you will get no birthday or Christmas parties, no presents or new dresses no shoes or toys." Later: "Long may you live as orphans."
• A year later, he wrote Winnie that "I feel I have been soaked in gall, every part of me, my flesh, bloodstream, bone and soul, so bitter am I to be completely powerless to help you in the rough and fierce ordeals you are going through."

Shimon Peres angrily denies reports

(NEWSER) - Israel offered to sell South Africa's apartheid government nuclear weapons, according to recently declassified documents, reports the Guardian —a claim Israeli President Shimon Peres categorically denies. In minutes of top secret 1975 meetings, Peres, then defense minister, offered to sell nuclear-capable Jericho missiles to South African Defense Minister PW Botha. Initially, it appeared South Africa was to provide its own nuclear payloads for the missiles, but one memo detailed: "Minister Peres said the correct payload was available in three sizes. Minister Botha expressed his appreciation and said that he would ask for advice." The "three sizes" are believed to refer to conventional, chemical and nuclear weapons, reports the Guardian. More»

Says he used iron bar to beat Terreblanche on African farm

(NEWSER) - A 15-year-old South African farm worker has confessed to fatally bludgeoning Eugene Terreblanche after the white supremacist refused to pay him wages. A co-worker "started hitting Terreblanche with four blows to the head. Then my son took the iron rod and hit him with three blows," said the mom of the teen, who hasn't been identified because he's a minor. "My son was a person who doesn't like to be in trouble." The account doesn't entirely match conclusions of police who recovered a club and machete at the murder scene. More»

Used grisly methods to 'cure' gay soldiers, abused male patient

(NEWSER) - A psychiatrist known as Dr. Shock for his notorious attempts to "cure" gay military recruits through electroshock therapy has been charged with sexually assaulting a male patient. Dr. Aubrey Levin, who was arrested in Calgary, Alberta, after he was secretly filmed sexually abusing a male patient, had previously been accused of gross human rights abuses for his treatment of gay soldiers and conscientious objectors in apartheid-era South Africa. More»

91-year-old taking limited role in South Africa events

(NEWSER) - Tomorrow is the 20th anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s release from a South African prison, but the 91-year-old won’t return to the site of his 27-year incarceration to join in a retracing of his steps to freedom over concerns that he’s too frail for the task. The abrupt announcement came today from the African National Congress, which Mandela led and in which his ex-wife is still powerful. More»