F.W. de Klerk, whose full name is Frederik Willem de Klerk, was born on March 18, 1936, in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is widely known as a politician who served as the president of South Africa from 1989 to 1994. During his presidency, he played a pivotal role in ending the apartheid system of racial segregation and negotiating a transition to majority rule in the country. For his efforts in establishing nonracial democracy in South Africa, he was jointly awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1993, along with Nelson Mandela.
De Klerk’s early life was influenced by his father, who was a prominent politician. He pursued a law degree with honors from Potchefstroom University in 1958. Following his education, he established a successful law firm in Vereeniging and became actively involved in civic and business affairs in the region.
In 1972, de Klerk was elected to Parliament for the National Party, marking the beginning of his political career. His legal expertise and esteemed reputation led to his appointment to key ministerial positions, including mine and energy affairs (1979–82), internal affairs (1982–85), and national education and planning (1984–89). In 1986, he was elected leader of the House of Assembly.
After President P.W. Botha fell ill in January 1989, de Klerk was elected leader of the National Party and opposed Botha’s return to office after his recovery. Subsequently, he was formally elected as the president by South Africa’s tricameral Parliament on September 14, 1989. His rise to power was attributed to the strong political base he had built in the Transvaal, where he had served as the chairman of the provincial National Party since 1982.
As president, de Klerk was committed to accelerating the reform process initiated by his predecessor and initiating discussions about a new post-apartheid constitution with representatives of the country’s four designated racial groups—white, black, Coloured, and Asian (Indian). Despite facing opposition from the conservative party in Parliament, de Klerk made significant strides by releasing political prisoners, including Nelson Mandela, and lifting the ban on the African National Congress (ANC) and the Pan-Africanist Congress of Azania.
Throughout his presidency, de Klerk engaged in frequent discussions with black leaders and pursued legislative changes aimed at repealing racially discriminatory laws affecting residence, education, public amenities, and healthcare in South Africa. In 1992, he called for a referendum in which nearly 69 percent of the country’s white voters endorsed his reform policies. That same year, de Klerk initiated earnest negotiations with Mandela and other black leaders to draft a new constitution that would enfranchise the black majority and pave the way for all-race national elections. Concurrently, his government systematically dismantled the legislative framework of the apartheid system.
Under de Klerk’s leadership, the National Party reached an agreement with the ANC in the summer of 1993 on a transition to majority rule. He spearheaded his party’s campaign in South Africa’s first all-race elections in April 1994, in which the ANC secured a majority of seats in the new National Assembly. Subsequently, de Klerk joined a government of national unity formed by Mandela, assuming the role of second deputy president.
In 1996, de Klerk resigned as deputy president and stepped down as head of the National Party in 1997, signaling his retirement from politics. Following his political career, he established the F.W. de Klerk Foundation in 2000 and founded the Global Leadership Foundation in 2004.
In 1998, de Klerk published his autobiography titled “The Last Trek: A New Beginning,” providing insights into his life and political journey.
Throughout his career, F.W. de Klerk played a crucial role in shaping the political landscape of South Africa and promoting reconciliation and democracy. His efforts in dismantling apartheid and fostering inclusive governance have left a lasting impact on the nation’s history and continue to be recognized globally.