F. W. de Klerk

7th state president of South Africa from 1989 to 1994

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Lived 1936–2021, aged 85South Africa

South Africa PoliticiansPolitician

Wikipedia
86 languages
Cross-language footprint
Rank in South Africa
#48
Politicians
Era
1936–2021
Aged 85
Known for
Countdown to Zero
2010

Summary

Updated 2026-06-21

He held the machinery of apartheid, then chose to dismantle it — not from conviction but from the cold calculation that South Africa was sliding toward racial civil war. The last white head of state became the man who signed away white rule.

Biography

About

Born in Johannesburg on 18 March 1936 to an influential Afrikaner family, Frederik Willem de Klerk studied at Potchefstroom University, pursued law, and entered parliament through the National Party, to which he had family ties. He served in P. W. Botha's white-minority government, holding ministerial posts and enforcing the racial segregation system he inherited. When Botha resigned in 1989, de Klerk took over as NP leader and State President — and surprised observers by deciding to end apartheid, driven by the recognition that mounting ethnic violence was pushing the country toward collapse.…

Voice

In their own words

Sourced, dated quotes from F. W. de Klerk

F. W. de Klerk

said5 Dec 2001

I'm certain about my decision [to divorce you]. Stop hoping.

— As quoted in "How South Africa's former first lady met a violent, lonely and bitter end" (5 December 2001), by Chris McGreal, The Guardian

F. W. de Klerk

said11 Jun 1999

Yes, I'm an African, born and bred. My forebears arrived in South Africa in 1688.

— On The Washington Journal of C-SPAN (11 June 1999)

F. W. de Klerk

said3 May 1994

Mandela has walked a long road and now stands at the top of the hill. A traveler would sit down and admire the view.

— Concession speech (1994), as quoted in "De Klerk: 'My Political Task Is Just Beginning'" (3 May 1994), Reuters

F. W. de Klerk

said10 Dec 1993

Peace does not simply mean the absence of conflict... There can therefore be no real peace without justice or consent...

— Nobel Peace Prize speech (10 December 1993)

F. W. de Klerk

said10 Oct 1992

There are powers that are trying to manipulate our country's history by trying to portray it as dark, suppressive and unfair... Yes, we have made mistakes.

— As quoted in The Citizen (10 October 1992), Johannesburg, South Africa

via Wikiquote · CC BY-SA

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