FW+de+Klerk

Born in Johannesburg South Africa on March 18, 1936, Frederik Willem de Klerk was a lawyer turned politician who helped steer South Africa in a new and different direction by helping to end Apartheid. de Klerk held many different political positions including that of a country state president, head of state, leader of the national party, and deputy president, and member of the ANC. To top it off he was the 1993 Nobel peace prize recipient. He is most famous for his active role in helping to end Apartheid, and free Nelson Mandela and the many others who fought to end apartheid. He spoke out against Apartheid by speaking in favor of a non-racist and united South Africa and would soon begin negotiations on behalf of his country’s future. After persistence and time a few months later de Klerk was able to lift bans that were place on the ANC. It was these negotiations that would end apartheid.

Ironically for most of de Klerk’s career he believed in segregation and separation, especially with regards to the educational systems in South Africa - specifically the universities. When he switched sides, it came as a shock to many. But de Klerk believed that the country was changing and that Apartheid should not and could not last forever. Once he took this stance against Apartheid, there was no stopping him. He began to give speeches and connect himself with people who were able to make significant monetary contributions to help his cause which was to make South Africa a free country for all of its citizens, both black and white. de Klerk's voice is what led to the freeing of Nelson Mandela and the ending of Apartheid in South Africa. He made many other contributions to the reshaping of South Africa; it was de Klerk who ended the nuclear weapons program in South Africa.

Nelson Mandela would later become South Africa's first black president, and under his leadership the country would soon unite. This, according to de Klerk, is Mandela’s greatest contributions to South Africa. Just like Mandela, de Klerk, who is still living, will leave behind a great legacy. His legacy will be that he had enough courage to stand up for what was right even though it was not popular to do so, thereby changing and reshaping a nation. Now, at the age of 79, de Klerk has retired from politics, although he still speaks. He has started two organizations, written a few books, and is still promoting peace.