OPINION

The life and career of FW de Klerk: Part 3

Late former President discusses his period as a back bencher and junior minister under John Vorster's govt 1972-1978

In episode 3 of the FW de Klerk Foundation’s exclusive biographical videos on the life and work of former President FW de Klerk, viewers can learn about the period between 1972 and 1978, including politics, separate development, and his time as a back bencher and junior Minister in Prime Minister John Vorster’s Government.

Spanning 1936 to 1972, episodes 1 and 2 covered Mr De Klerk’s childhood, family, schooling, tertiary education and career as an attorney in Vereeniging.

Released for the first time on what would have been FW de Klerk’s 87th birthday on 18 March, the series of 17 exclusive video interviews feature the former president sharing his memories of his life and career with FW de Klerk Foundation Chairman and long-time associate and friend, Dave Steward.

The Foundation will continue to release a new episode every two weeks and hopes that the videos – together with the proposed FW de Klerk Archive – will contribute towards the preservation of FW de Klerk’s legacy and provide a useful resource for scholars, historians and anyone interested in learning more about the crucial role that he played in the constitutional transformation of South Africa.