FORMER PRESIDENT, FW DE KLERK, 85, HAS DIED

By Iviwe Makhasi

The last president of apartheid in South Africa, FW De Klerk has died earlier morning of Thursday,11 November at the age of 85 in Cape Town after he struggled in cancer.

FW De Klerk foundation said in a statement that it is with sadness that his foundation must announce that the former president FW De Klerk died peacefully at his home in Fresnaye earlier in the morning following his struggle against mesothelioma cancer.

He was born in March 1936 in Johannesburg, into a line of Afrikaner politicians.

Referred to as “the last white ruler of South Africa, “De Klerk shared the Nobel peace Prize in 1993 with Nelson Mandela” for their work for the peaceful termination of the apartheid regime, and for laying the foundations for a new democratic South Africa”.

The former president is survived by his wife Elita, two children Susan and Jan, and his Grandchildren.

The president, Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to announce details of De Klerk’s state funeral in due course.