He also announced that Mandela would be released from prison after 27 years. His actions helped bring an end to apartheid-era South Africa, and he became one of the country's two deputy presidents after the multi-party elections in that saw Mandela become president.
He retired from politics in , saying: "I am resigning because I am convinced it is in the best interest of the party and the country. Although the relationship between De Klerk and Mandela was often punctuated by bitter disagreements, the new president described the man he succeeded as someone of great integrity. It is also an uneven one, something South Africans are called to reckon with in this moment," the statement added.
Many have blamed De Klerk for violence committed against black South Africans and anti-apartheid activists during his time in power. Last year, he became embroiled in a row in which he was accused of playing down the seriousness of apartheid. He later apologised for "quibbling" over the matter. Mandela's foundation said in a separate statement that de Klerk would "forever be linked to Nelson Mandela in the annals of South African history". However, de Klerk's role in the transition from minority white rule to democracy remains highly contested.
Many Blacks were angered by his failure to curb political violence in the turbulent years leading up to the elections, while right-wing white Afrikaners, who had long ruled the country under de Klerk's National Party, viewed him as a traitor to their causes of white supremacy and nationalism.
De Klerk's foundation said he had died peacefully at his home in Cape Town on Thursday morning after a battle with mesothelioma, a cancer that affects the tissue lining the lungs.
John Steenhuisen, leader of the Democratic Alliance DA , South Africa's second biggest party after the ANC, said de Klerk's success in bringing the majority of white voters with him over the need to abolish apartheid helped ensure that "the transition happened peacefully".
The speech marked the official end of segregation policies and the start of the negotiations that led to constitutional democracy with equal rights for all South Africans.
Amid gasps, several members of parliament left the chamber as he spoke. Nine days later, Mandela walked free. By then, de Klerk and Mandela had been awarded the Nobel prize for their often-tense cooperation in moving South Africa away from institutionalised racism and towards democracy.
He continued to have a good relationship with the African National Congress, in fact becoming a member later on. For 4 weeks receive unlimited Premium digital access to the FT's trusted, award-winning business news. Digital Be informed with the essential news and opinion. Delivery to your home or office Monday to Saturday FT Weekend paper — a stimulating blend of news and lifestyle features ePaper access — the digital replica of the printed newspaper.
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