Home World South Africa News Government to hold state memorial for FW de Klerk

Government to hold state memorial for FW de Klerk

359
0
FW de Klerk

The government will host a state memorial service for the last apartheid president, FW de Klerk, at the weekend.

De Klerk died in November at his home in Cape Town, after a long battle with cancer.

He came to power in 1989 under apartheid, however, later became a key figure in the transition to democracy.

He ordered Nelson Mandela’s release from prison, leading to the historic 1994 polls where the anti-apartheid leader became South Africa’s first black president.

In a video shared shortly after De Klerk’s death was announced, he said his views on apartheid had changed significantly since the 1980s.

However, some say it was too little too late.

Source: News365