Frederik Willem de Klerk, commonly known as F. W. de Klerk, was born on March 18, 1936, in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was a prominent South African politician who served as the country's last head of state during the apartheid era, from 1989 until 1994. De Klerk played a crucial role in the transition from apartheid to a democratic South Africa, and his leadership during this period marked a significant turning point in the nation’s history.

De Klerk hailed from a prominent Afrikaner family, deeply embedded in the political and social fabric of South Africa. His father, Jan de Klerk, was a senior politician who served as a minister in the South African government, and his great-grandfather was a senator. This background influenced de Klerk's early views, and he initially supported the apartheid policies that his National Party upheld.

De Klerk studied at Potchefstroom University, where he earned a law degree. He entered politics in 1972 when he was elected as a Member of Parliament for Vereeniging. He quickly rose through the ranks of the National Party, holding various ministerial positions, including Minister of Mines and Energy, Minister of the Interior, and Minister of National Education. Throughout these roles, de Klerk was seen as a staunch defender of apartheid.

However, when de Klerk became the leader of the National Party in February 1989 and subsequently the President of South Africa in September 1989, his stance began to shift. Recognizing the unsustainable nature of apartheid and the growing international and domestic pressure for reform, de Klerk took bold steps to dismantle the apartheid system. In February 1990, in a landmark speech, he announced the unbanning of the African National Congress (ANC) and other anti-apartheid organizations, as well as the release of Nelson Mandela from prison after 27 years.

De Klerk's decision to negotiate with the ANC and other opposition groups led to the end of apartheid and the establishment of a multiracial democracy in South Africa. He shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Nelson Mandela in 1993 for their efforts to peacefully end apartheid and transition to democracy.

In the first multiracial elections held in 1994, de Klerk’s National Party was defeated by the ANC, and Mandela became the first black president of South Africa. De Klerk served as one of Mandela's deputy presidents until 1996, after which he retired from active politics. He continued to be involved in various charitable and educational activities, promoting peace and reconciliation.

F. W. de Klerk passed away on November 11, 2021, at the age of 85. His legacy remains complex; he is credited with helping to end apartheid, yet he has been criticized for not fully acknowledging the harms caused by the system he once supported.

REFERENCE:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F._W._de_Klerk