The apartheid era’s last president, FW De Klerk, has passed away at the age of 85. He passed way in the early hours on Thursday morning at his home after a battle with cancer. There are a lot of questions and controversy surrounding the legacy that FW De Klerk is leaving behind,
“It is with the deepest sadness that the FW de Klerk Foundation must announce that former President FW de Klerk died peacefully at his home in Fresnaye earlier this morning following his struggle against mesothelioma cancer. Mr. De Klerk was 85 years old. He is survived by his wife Elita, his children Jan and Susan and his grandchildren,” statement by FW de Klerk Foundation
FW De Klerk was president of the country from 1989 to 1994, He was the last white president to preside over apartheid and the brutality it had over black people in South Africa.
“De Klerk was associated with the conservative wing of the National Party. He was active in Afrikaner nationalist organizations from a young age, before joining the apartheid parliament in the early 1970s.
De Klerk’s political career confirms his commitment to apartheid. After ascending to a National Party ministerial position in the late 1970s, he passed through portfolios instrumental in the domination of black people.” a piece from Christi van der Westhuizen, analysis
Jounalist Lukhanyo Calata shared his sentiments on De Klerks passing: “We are indeed very sad that it’s come to this, that De Klerk has died without us knowing what the truth is around the murders of the Cradock Four and that he takes to the grave truth that would have helped us heal, that would have helped us contribute towards building a better South Africa. Now we will always be left wondering.
“And again, I must state that maybe this is exactly what the ANC wanted because De Klerk’s death means that now they are protected, their secrets are protected and we will now never really know why the TRC cases were never prosecuted as was demanded by the TRC and the Act that brought it into place.”
The questions and controversy about the type of legacy De Klerk leaves remains concealed, as politicians share quite different sentiments on the issue.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said: De Klerk played a huge role in ushering the country into democracy
DA leader John Steenhuisen shared similar sentiments with the president as he shared his condolences and acknowledged De Klerks contribution into helping the country into a peaceful transition into democracy.
IFP seems to be jumping on the same bandwagon “we have lost a champion of democratic principle and constitutionalism who served South Africa long after his retirement from governance” a piece from the parts press release
ActionSA tweeted “De Klerk played an important role, regardless of motivations, in the freeing of former president Nelson Mandela and ending apartheid”
EFF holds a totally different view “As a president of apartheid. De Klerk holds no legitimate claim to any tittle of honour of having led this country. He was a president of undemocratic and racist society, which elected him as minority,”
FW De Klerk refused to recognize apartheid as crime against black people which makes it hard to believe if any of his apologies were sincere
