The last president of apartheid South Africa, FW de Klerk dies at age 85

Date:

Share post:

A Former South African President Frederik Willem de Klerk; who happens to be the last leader; under the apartheid era and a key actor in South Africa’s transition to its current democracy, has died; at age 85 as his foundation has announced.

“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.The last president of apartheid South Africa, FW de Klerk dies at age 85

The late former President  and the first black President of South Africa, President Nelson Mandela shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993; for leading the “miracle” transition from minority-white rule in the country.

According to aljazeera, In February 1990, de Klerk delivered a speech at the country’s Parliament; announcing avant-garde reforms that marked the beginning of the negotiated transition from apartheid to democracy.

The associated reforms lifted the ban on the African National Congress (ANC) and other anti-apartheid organisations; and authorised the release of several political prisoners, which included Nelson Mandela. It also put a prohibition on the death penalty.

This historic speech marked the official end of segregation policies and heralded the start of the negotiations; that led to the eventual constitutional democracy with equal rights for all South Africans.

Amid the speech, several members of the then apartheid parliament left the chamber as de Klerk spoke. However, nine days after the speech,  Nelson Mandela walked free.

And Four years after that, Nelson Mandela was elected South Africa’s first Black president as Black South Africans finally voted for the first time.

And By then, Nelson Mandela and de Klerk had been awarded the Nobel prize for their often-tense cooperation in moving South Africa away from institutionalised racism/apartheid and towards democracy.

 

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

- Advertisement -

Related articles

Priscilla Ojo Unveils New Name After Wedding to Tanzanian Artist Juma Jux

Nollywood stars and fans have flooded social media with congratulatory messages following the traditional wedding of Priscilla Ojo,...

African Masterpieces of Literature & Song

The following is our list of the most famous pieces of work about Africa, cutting across: literature politics ...

Best African Singers Heard Around the Globe

So you want to know who the best African singers are? The African continent has given birth to some...

‘We Will Not Be Bullied’: South Africa’s President Responds to U.S. Aid Freeze

Pretoria, South Africa – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has pushed back against U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision...