RIP FW de Klerk Former South African President FW de Klerk, who released Nelson Mandela, dies at 85
Cape Town/IBNS: Former South African President and the country's last white leader, FW de Klerk, died at the age of 85 on Thursday, media reports said.
de Klerk, who was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, died at his home here.
He is survived by his wife Elita, children Jan and Susan and his grandchildren.
de Klerk, who played an important role in South Africa's journey to democracy, remained the President from 1989 to 1994.
Gearing up to 1994 multi-party elections, de Klerk had released anti-aparthied leader Nelson Mandela in 1990.
He was also one of the two deputy Presidents after Mandela became the President in 1994 elections.
Though he had played a key role in ending apartheid era in the country, many black South Africans blamed him for allegedly not being able to control the violence.
Announcing his resignation from politics in 1997, de Klerk had said as quoted by BBC, "I am resigning because I am convinced it is in the best interest of the party and the country."
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