Frederik Willem (FW) de Klerk, South Africa’s last white President, has died after a battle with cancer.
In a press statement by his foundation, FW de Klerk Foundation, he died at his home in Cape Town aged 85 years old.
“FW de Klerk died peacefully at his home in Fresnaye earlier this morning following his struggle against mesothelioma cancer,” the FW de Klerk Foundation said in a statement on Thursday.
Mr de Klerk was South Africa’s President between September 1989 and May 1994 and he is credited for putting an end to the apartheid and negotiating government transfer from White rule to a Black-led government under Nelson Mandela.
He also famously released Nelson Mandela from prison in 1990 and the two men shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for their role in ending the transition from minority-white rule.
Former South Africa’s Presidents Nelson Mandela (left) and de Klerk (right) pose with their Nobel Peace Prize medals and diplomas in 1993
Reacting to the death of de Klerk, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa highlighted the former leader’s brave decision to save the country.
“He took the courageous decision (as president) to unban political parties, release political prisoners and enter into negotiations with the liberation movement amid severe pressure to the contrary from many in his political constituency,” Ramphosa said.
Mandela’s foundation in a message of condolence also said that de Klerk would “forever be linked to Nelson Mandela in the annals of South African history”.
De Klerk is survived by his wife Elita, his children Jan and Susan and his grandchildren.
