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Frederik Willem de KlerkPresident of South Africa from 1989 to 1994.
Date of Birth: 18.03.1936
Country:  South Africa |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Political Career
- Ministerial Roles
- Rise to Leadership
- Presidency (1989-1994)
- President of South Africa
- - Releasing Nelson Mandela from prison in 1990
- Negotiations and Transition to Democracy
- Post-Presidency
- Later Life and Death
- Awards and Recognition
Early Life and Education
Frederik Willem de Klerk was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, on March 18, 1936. He attended the University of Potchefstroom, where he graduated with honors in 1958.
Political Career
Early PositionsDe Klerk began his political career in 1961, establishing an attorney's practice in Vereeniging. In 1972, he was elected to the Parliament of South Africa on the National Party ticket representing the constituency of Vereeniging. He was re-elected in 1974.
Ministerial Roles
From 1978 to 1980, De Klerk served as Minister of Mines, Environmental Conservation, and Energy. Subsequently, he held the positions of Minister of Mines and Energy (1980-1982) and Minister of Internal Affairs and Minister of Administration and Statistics (1982-1984).
Rise to Leadership
In 1982, De Klerk became the leader of the Transvaal branch of the National Party. He served as Minister of Internal Affairs and National Education (for whites) and Chairman of the Ministerial Council of the House of Assembly from 1984 to 1986. He became leader of the National Party in 1989.
Presidency (1989-1994)
Acting PresidentDe Klerk served as Acting President of South Africa from August 15 to September 14, 1989.
President of South Africa
On September 14, 1989, De Klerk was elected President of South Africa. He initiated a series of reforms aimed at dismantling apartheid, including:
- Releasing Nelson Mandela from prison in 1990
- Legalizing the African National Congress (ANC) and the Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC)
- Abolishing discriminatory laws on group areas, population registration, and "public safety"
Negotiations and Transition to Democracy
De Klerk initiated consultations with Mandela on a new constitution in 1990. In 1993, they agreed to establish a transitional government involving the National Party and the ANC. In October 1993, De Klerk and Mandela were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Post-Presidency
In 1994, the ANC won South Africa's first democratic elections. The National Party received 21% of the vote, giving it the right to appoint the Deputy President. De Klerk was elected Second Deputy President of South Africa, serving alongside Thabo Mbeki. He resigned from this position in June 1996 and announced his retirement from politics in August 1997.
Later Life and Death
In 1998, De Klerk divorced his wife of 38 years, Marike. He later married his former mistress, Elita Georgiades. Marike De Klerk was murdered in 2001, and her security guard was convicted of the crime.
Frederik Willem De Klerk passed away at the age of 85 on November 11, 2021.
Awards and Recognition
- Order of Merit (South Africa, 1981)- Order of Mapungubwe in Gold, 2nd Class (South Africa, 2002)
