F.W. de Klerk

An attorney who held a number of South African ministerial posts, F. W. de Klerk became both the leader of South Africa's National Party and the country's president in 1989. Previously known as a political centrist, upon becoming president, de Klerk lifted the ban on the African National Congress and other political parties, released Nelson Mandela from prison, and essentially brought apartheid to an end, making possible a new constitution guaranteeing the principle of one person, one vote. He now heads the F. W. de Klerk Foundation, which works for peace in societies divided along cultural, ethnic, religious, or linguistic lines. In 1993, along with Nelson Mandela, de Klerk was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to dismantle apartheid.

Resources for Teachers and Students

Reflections on Working Towards Peace