F.W. de Klerk, South Africa's Last Apartheid President, Dies
2021-11-12
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1F.W. de Klerk, South Africa's last apartheid president who oversaw the end of the country's white minority rule, has died.
2A spokesman for the former president's organization said Thursday that Frederik Willem de Klerk died in his Cape Town home after a fight with cancer. He was 85.
3De Klerk surprised the world when he ended apartheid and peacefully handed over power to a Black-led government under Nelson Mandela.
4De Klerk was a controversial person in South Africa.
5Many blamed him for violence against Black South Africans and anti-apartheid activists during his time in power.
6Some white South Africans saw his cooperation to end apartheid as an act of disloyalty.
7"De Klerk's legacy is a big one. It is also an uneven one, something South Africans are called to reckon with in this moment," the Mandela Foundation said of his death.
8In February 1990, de Klerk announced in a speech to parliament that Mandela would be released from prison after 27 years.
9The country had long been denounced around the world for its system of apartheid.
10With South Africa's economy seriously weakened from international sanctions, de Klerk also lifted a ban on the African National Congress (ANC) and other anti-apartheid political groups.
11Negotiations to create a non-racial democracy after Mandela's release were held during a time of increased political violence.
12The talks nearly broke down and the country came close to a violent race war.
13But the process continued peacefully in what many political experts called a "political miracle."
14In 1993 de Klerk shared a Nobel Peace Prize with Mandela, who would win the presidency the following year.
15It was the first time Black South Africans could vote in Africa's biggest economy.
16After the vote, the National Party shared power in a "Government of National Unity" in which de Klerk served as a deputy president.
17But the relationship between de Klerk and Mandela was often tense.
18De Klerk pulled out of the government in 1996, saying the ANC no longer valued his opinion.
19Later in life, de Klerk said there was no longer conflict between him and Mandela and that they remained friends.
20Although he publicly apologized for the pain that apartheid caused, he was never seen as a hero like Mandela.
21Years after the end of apartheid, de Klerk continued to defend the political system.
22He said the goal of apartheid was to separate the development of white and Black South Africans.
23But in reality, the violent apartheid system forced millions of the country's Black majority into "homeland" communities with high rates of poverty.
24And the system left most of South Africa's land in the hands of the white minority population.
25De Klerk admitted later in life that the goal of "separate but equal failed."
26In 2020, de Klerk angered many South Africans when he said he did not think apartheid was a crime against humanity.
27When he attended President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation speech in parliament that year, some members shouted at him and demanded that he leave.
28Later, de Klerk said he accepted that apartheid was a crime against humanity and apologized for his earlier comments.
29But he is still seen by many South Africans as the last apartheid leader, not the leader who helped lead the country away from violent racial discrimination.
30Upon his death, opposition leader Julius Malema criticized media reports that said de Klerk was a former president of South Africa.
31"He is a former apartheid president," Malema said in a tweet.
32Others on social media said de Klerk should not be given a state funeral.
33I'm Dan Novak.
1F.W. de Klerk, South Africa's last apartheid president who oversaw the end of the country's white minority rule, has died. 2A spokesman for the former president's organization said Thursday that Frederik Willem de Klerk died in his Cape Town home after a fight with cancer. He was 85. 3De Klerk surprised the world when he ended apartheid and peacefully handed over power to a Black-led government under Nelson Mandela. 4De Klerk was a controversial person in South Africa. Many blamed him for violence against Black South Africans and anti-apartheid activists during his time in power. Some white South Africans saw his cooperation to end apartheid as an act of disloyalty. 5"De Klerk's legacy is a big one. It is also an uneven one, something South Africans are called to reckon with in this moment," the Mandela Foundation said of his death. 6In February 1990, de Klerk announced in a speech to parliament that Mandela would be released from prison after 27 years. The country had long been denounced around the world for its system of apartheid. 7With South Africa's economy seriously weakened from international sanctions, de Klerk also lifted a ban on the African National Congress (ANC) and other anti-apartheid political groups. 8Negotiations to create a non-racial democracy after Mandela's release were held during a time of increased political violence. The talks nearly broke down and the country came close to a violent race war. But the process continued peacefully in what many political experts called a "political miracle." 9In 1993 de Klerk shared a Nobel Peace Prize with Mandela, who would win the presidency the following year. It was the first time Black South Africans could vote in Africa's biggest economy. 10After the vote, the National Party shared power in a "Government of National Unity" in which de Klerk served as a deputy president. But the relationship between de Klerk and Mandela was often tense. De Klerk pulled out of the government in 1996, saying the ANC no longer valued his opinion. 11Later in life, de Klerk said there was no longer conflict between him and Mandela and that they remained friends. Although he publicly apologized for the pain that apartheid caused, he was never seen as a hero like Mandela. 12Years after the end of apartheid, de Klerk continued to defend the political system. He said the goal of apartheid was to separate the development of white and Black South Africans. But in reality, the violent apartheid system forced millions of the country's Black majority into "homeland" communities with high rates of poverty. And the system left most of South Africa's land in the hands of the white minority population. 13De Klerk admitted later in life that the goal of "separate but equal failed." 14In 2020, de Klerk angered many South Africans when he said he did not think apartheid was a crime against humanity. When he attended President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation speech in parliament that year, some members shouted at him and demanded that he leave. 15Later, de Klerk said he accepted that apartheid was a crime against humanity and apologized for his earlier comments. But he is still seen by many South Africans as the last apartheid leader, not the leader who helped lead the country away from violent racial discrimination. 16Upon his death, opposition leader Julius Malema criticized media reports that said de Klerk was a former president of South Africa. "He is a former apartheid president," Malema said in a tweet. 17Others on social media said de Klerk should not be given a state funeral. 18I'm Dan Novak. 19Dan Novak adapted this story based on reports from The Associated Press and Reuters. Bryan Lynn was the editor. 20_______________________________________ 21Words in This Story 22apartheid - n. a former social system in South Africa in which black people and people from other racial groups did not have the same political and economic rights as white people and were forced to live separately from white people 23controversial - adj. relating to or causing much discussion, disagreement, or argument 24legacy - n. something (such as property or money) that is received from someone who has died 25reckon - v. to think or suppose (something) : to believe that (something) is true or possible 26sanction - n. an action that is taken or an order that is given to force a country to obey international laws by limiting or stopping trade with that country, by not allowing economic aid for that country, etc. 27miracle - n. an unusual or wonderful event that is believed to be caused by the power of God