South Africa, dies at 85 FW de Klerk: He was the last white president

FW de Klerk, the former president of South Africa and the last white man to lead the country has died at the age of 85. The BBC reports it. A spokesperson said de Klerk, who was a key figure in South Africa’s transition to democracy, was diagnosed with cancer this year. De Klerk led South Africa between September 1989 and May 1994. In 1990 he announced the release of anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela, thus paving the way for the first multi-party elections in 1994. A statement from the Frederik Willem de Klerk Foundation reported that “former president FW de Klerk passed away peacefully this morning at his Fresnaye (Cape Town) home after battling mesothelioma.” According to the diagnosis announced in June, it was pleural cancer. FW de Klerk succeeded PW Botha at the helm of the National Party in February 1989 and the following year announced that he would cancel the provision that banned a number of parties, including Mandela’s African National Congress (Anc). . His initiative contributed decisively to ending apartheid and earned him, together with Mandela, the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. After the multi-party elections of 1994 and the election of Nelson Mandela to the presidency, de Klerk became deputy until 1996. He retired from active politics in 1997.