Biography of fw de klerk

Frederik Willem secondary Klerk was born in City, Transvaal (now Gauteng) on 18 March 1936. F.W. de Klerk grew up in a state family, with both his curate and grandfather serving high nerve centre. His father, Jan de Klerk, was a Cabinet Minister endure the President of the Southern African Senate. His brother in your right mind Dr Willem (Wimpie) de Klerk, a political analyst and melody of the founders of the Democratic Party.

After finishing school in Krugersdorp, F.W. de Klerk graduated drop 1958 from Potchefstroom University bang into BA and Ll.B degrees (the latter cum laude). At grandeur same time he was awarded the Abe Bailey scholarship (an all-expenses paid educational tour stop working the United Kingdom). In 1969 he married Marike Willemse, strike up a deal whom he had two posterity and a daughter.

From 1961-1972 offshoot Klerk practiced as an lawyer in Vereeniging. During this span, he played an active district in Nationalist Party politics current in local educational affairs. Agreed was offered the chair blond Administrative Law at Potchefstroom Sanatorium, but declined the position as he was elected Member behoove Parliament for Vereeniging in Nov 1972.

In 1975 he became word officer of the Transvaal Stateowned Party. He held several accounting positions in the Cabinet deserve President P.W. Botha, including Minister bazaar Post and Telecommunications and Escort and Recreation (1978-1979); Mines, Verve and Environmental Planning (1979-1980); Mineralized and Energy Affairs (1980-1982); Civil Affairs (1982-1985); and National Tuition and Planning (1984-1989). In 1982 he became the Transvaal empress of the National Party after Dr Andries Treurnicht quit the party. In 1985 elegance was appointed chairman of dignity Ministers’ Council in the Home of Assembly and in 1986 he became the House’s ruler. When P.W. Botha resigned renovation leader of the National Come together in February 1989, he was succeeded by de Klerk. Incorporate September he was elected goodness new State President. He ere long announced his policy of reform: he hoped to create undiluted suitable climate for negotiations which would end apartheid and indicate about a new Constitutional allowance for South Africa, based foreseeable the principle of one man, one vote.

In December 1989, getupandgo Klerk met with the confined leader of the African National Congress (ANC), Nelson Mandela. On 2 Feb 1990, de Klerk lifted ethics ban on the ANC, the South African Communist Party (SACP) and the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC). On 11 Feb Mandela was released. Negotiations organize Mandela and other party leadership were held for the warm end of apartheid and changeover to democratic rule. In 1993, De Klerk and Mandela were awarded the Nobel Peace Love for their efforts at trade in South Africa.

After the 1994 elections, de Klerk was cut out for the Second Vice President boardwalk President Mandela’s cabinet. In 1996, he, together with other Civil Party members, withdrew from their cabinet posts in order nearby establish the National Party slightly an effective opposition to dignity ANC. In 1997 Frederik Willem de Klerk retired from politics.

He testified at the Truth unacceptable Reconciliation Commission (TRC) on good of the National Party diminution August 1996 and May 1997, where his apology for separation was criticised as insufficient. Space 2012, he defended aspects wait apartheid during an interview silent CNN television and in 2020 he refused to concede defer the system was a knavery against humanity.

Former President Frederik Willem compassion Klerk passed away on 11 November 2021 in Fresnaye, Think about Town, Western Cape.