The funeral of former apartheid president FW de Klerk is a matter that will be handled by his family and foundation, the Presidency confirmed in a statement.
De Klerk’s legacy stained by denialism
De Klerk died peacefully in his Fresnaye home, on Thursday morning after a lifelong battle with mesothelioma cancer.
In his last message to South Africa, De Klerk conceded to being a staunch supporter of the separate development policy first introduced by the chief engineer of the apartheid system, Hendrik Verwoerd.
“It is true that in my younger years, I defended separate development as I never liked the word apartheid. I did so, when I was a member of Parliament and I did so as I became a member of Cabinet. On many occasions, I apologised for the pain and indignity that apartheid has brought to persons of colour in South Africa,” he lamented
The Nobel Peace Prize winner apologised unreservedly for his contribution towards the oppression of black South Africans but this newfound conscience was marred by his denial on live TV on 17 February 2020 — three days after he was heckled by EFF members for being invited to the opening of Parliament — that apartheid was not a crime against humanity.
Perhaps, this stain will forever mark De Klerk’s polarising political history. A man who, in the face of internal pressure from apartheid stalwarts, folded to calls for equality and contributed, in one way or the other, to the realisation of democracy in South Africa.
FW de Klerk funeral: Will it be funded by the state?
This sentiment was shared by President Cyril Ramaphosa in his statement on the former apartheid president’s passing.
“The then State President De Klerk played a vital role in our transition to democracy in the 1990s, which originated from his first meeting in 1989 with President Nelson Mandela who was a political prisoner at that stage.
“He took the courageous decision to unban political parties, release political prisoners and enter into negotiations with the liberation movement amid severe pressure to the contrary from many in his political constituency,” Ramaphosa wrote.
The current president of South Africa sent his condolences to De Klerk’s wife Elita, his children, Jan and Susan, and his grandchildren. However, on the question on whether the Presidency would, in any way, be involved in the arrangement of his funeral, Ramaphosa said:
“May his soul rest in peace.
The FW de Klerk Foundation will in due course make announcements regarding funeral arrangements.”
At the time of publishing, the FW de Klerk Foundation had not released information on the 85-year-old’s send-off.
