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Top 10 Sensational Facts about F. W. de Klerk

Frederik Willem de Klerk 1990 by Unknown Arthur

Frederik Willem de Klerk was a South African politician who served as state president of South Africa from 1989 to 1994 and as deputy president from 1994 to 1996.

Klerk grew up in a political family, with both his father and grandfather serving in high office, he received a law degree with honors from Potchefstroom University in 1958.

He is best known for having brought apartheid to an end and opening the way for the drafting of a new constitution for the country based on the principle of one person, one vote.

He owed his political success to the power base he had built up in the Transvaal, where he had been chairman of the provincial National Party from 1982.

1. Remarkably de Klerk issues a posthumous apology for the pain of apartheid after his death

South Africa鈥檚 last white president, FW de Klerk, who with Nelson Mandela oversaw the end of apartheid.

His office issued a prerecorded posthumous video apology for the country鈥檚 discriminatory system of white minority rule.

De Klerk, who jointly won the Nobel peace prize with Mandela, leaves behind a complicated legacy in the country.

The country is still scarred by the consequences of the brutal institutionalized system of white-minority rule that he helped usher out.

As well as ending apartheid, De Klerk, who as a minister had helped uphold the white-minority rule, also helped dismantle South Africa鈥檚 nuclear weapons Programme.

2. Frederick Willem Klerk amazingly has won many awards one being the Noble peace Prize

Former South African President F.W. de Klerk /

Frederick Willem de Klerk Awarded for Exceptional and unparalleled contribution to peace, national reconciliation, and nation-building in the republic of South Africa.

Frederik Willem de Klerk goes into the annals of history as the President of the last white minority government who was bold enough to lead white South Africa.

He led it out of an unsustainable and untenable apartheid system towards a non-racial, non-sexist, prosperous, and democratic South Africa.

During his reign, Mr. De Klerk went about dismantling many of the provisions of apartheid and setting the stage for the first democratic general election in 1994.

De Klerk together with Mandela were joint recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize in December 1993.

3. The astonishing De Klerk founded the Global leadership foundation in 2004 

Mr. De Klerk founded the Global Leadership Foundation in 2004 and was Chairman of the Board from 2004-2021.

He has represented GLF in meetings with leaders of nine countries in Africa, South America, Europe, Central Asia, and South East Asia.

Mr. De Klerk has received numerous national and international honors and honorary doctorates.

The F W de Klerk Foundation is dedicated to the promotion of peace in multi-communal societies and the upholding of South Africa鈥檚 constitution.

4. Remarkably Klerk served as the vice president during the reign of Mandela 

Frederik de Klerk with Nelson Mandela by Unknown Arthur

From 1961-1972 de Klerk practiced as an attorney in Vereeniging. During this time, he played an active part in Nationalist Party politics and local educational affairs.

In 1975 he became the information officer of the Transvaal National Party. He held several ministerial positions in the Cabinet of President P.W. Botha.

In December 1989, de Klerk met with the imprisoned leader of the African National Congress (ANC), Nelson Mandela.

After the 1994 elections, de Klerk was appointed the Second Vice President in President Mandela鈥檚 cabinet.

In 1997 Frederik Willem de Klerk retired from politics, and he testified at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on behalf of the National Party.

5. The famous De Klerk will be remembered for his famous speech to ban liberation movements

De Klerk will be most remembered for his famous speech delivered on 2 February 1990 in which he announced the unbanning of the African National Congress and other liberation movements.

De Klerk was associated with the conservative wing of the National Party. He was active in Afrikaner nationalist organizations from a young age.

De Klerk鈥檚 political career confirms his commitment to apartheid. After ascending to a National Party ministerial position in the late 1970s.

He insisted before the Commission that crimes against humanity have to do with the 鈥�willful extermination of hundreds of thousands of people鈥�.

6. F.W de Klerk astonishingly is among the richest politicians with a net worth of $46M

F.W. de Klerk in conversation with participants by Unknown Arthur/

Klerk has an estimated net worth of about $46 million making him stand amongst one of the richest politicians in South Africa.

In April 1994 racially inclusive elections were held for the first time. Mandela was overwhelmingly elected and De Klerk served for two years as deputy president in Nelson Mandela’s government.

That De Klerk never saw himself and the National Party regime in that light, is paradoxically what enabled him to lead the party鈥檚 relinquishing of state power.

7. Truth and reconciliation commission interestingly was established to heal the country after Apartheid

Truth and Reconciliation Commission, South Africa (TRC), a court-like body established by the new South African government in 1995.

The commission helped to heal the country and bring about a reconciliation of its people by uncovering the truth about human rights violations that had occurred during the period of apartheid.

The conflict during the apartheid period resulted in violence and human rights abuses from all sides.

Its emphasis was on gathering evidence and uncovering information from both victims and perpetrators and not on prosecuting individuals for past crimes.

8. The amazing relationship between Nelson Mandela and De Klerk was complicated

Frederik de Klerk with Nelson Mandela by Unknown Arthur/

Two years after he became president of South Africa, F.W. de Klerk, secretly met with Nelson Mandela at Tuynhus, the South African president鈥檚 residence in Cape Town.

Mandela at the time was the most famous political prisoner in the world, The meeting was formal but cordial.

It was the first time they had met, and prison officials had hurriedly ordered a three-piece suit and tie for Mandela

The two discussed the future of South Africa and Mandela鈥檚 possible release, Mandela鈥檚 relationship with de Klerk was complicated.

9. Astonishingly De Kerk got married twice Marike Willemse and Elita Georgiades

F.W De Klerk got married to Marike Willemse in 1959 but they divorced in 1998. In 1998 he got married to his second wife Elita Georgiades.

He has three children from his first marriage to Marike Willemse and one daughter and two sons who are Susan de Klerk, Willem de Klerk, and Jan de Klerk.

10. The famous F.W de Klerk died peacefully at his home he had mesothelioma cancer

F.W de Klerk died peacefully at his home in Fresnaye earlier this morning following his struggle against mesothelioma cancer.

He ordered Nelson Mandela’s release from prison, leading to historic polls where the anti-apartheid leader became the first black president.