Frederik Willem de Klerk was a South African politician and statesman who served as the last state president of South Africa from 1989 to 1994. He and Nelson Mandela were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for their work to end apartheid and establish a multiracial democracy in South Africa.
After studying law and working as an attorney, de Klerk entered politics in the late 1960s. He quickly rose through the ranks of the National Party, the dominant political party in South Africa at the time. De Klerk served in a number of ministerial positions in the government of P.W. Botha, including Minister of the Interior and Minister of National Education.
In 1989, de Klerk became the state president of South Africa. He took over the presidency at a time of great turmoil and violence in South Africa, as the apartheid regime was facing increasing opposition from both within the country and abroad.
One of de Klerk's first acts as president was to legalise the African National Congress (ANC), which had been banned by the government for many years. He also released Nelson Mandela, who had been imprisoned by the apartheid regime for over 27 years.
De Klerk and Mandela worked together to negotiate an end to apartheid and to establish a multiracial democracy in South Africa. These negotiations resulted in the 1994 general elections, in which the ANC won a landslide victory. De Klerk's term as president ended on 10 May 1994, when Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as the first black president of South Africa.
After leaving office, de Klerk continued to be involved in politics and public life. He established the FW de Klerk Foundation, which works to promote democracy, human rights, and reconciliation in South Africa. He also served as chairman of the Global Leadership Foundation, an organisation that brings together former world leaders to work on global issues.
Frederik Willem de Klerk died on 11 November 2021 at the age of 85. He is remembered as one of the most important figures in the history of South Africa, and his legacy will continue to shape the country for many years to come.