FW de Klerk: South Africa former president Frederik Willem de Klerk die at di age of 85 - See wetin you need to know about am

Former South Africa president wey also be di last white pesin to lead di kontri, FW de Klerk don die.

E die at di age of 85. One tok-tok pesin say dem bin diagnose am wit cancer dis year.

Oga De Klerk na key figure for di nation change to democracy. E head di state between 1989 and May 1994.

For 1990 e announce say im go release anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela, dis one lead to multi-party polls for 1994.

Oga de Klerk share di Nobel Peace Prize wit oga Mandela say e put an end to white rule for di kontri. However, many pipo don question im role for di kontri transition to democracy.

One statement from di former president FW de Klerk Foundation on Thursday read say; "Former President FW de Klerk die peacefully for im house forn Fresnaye (Cape Town) earlier dis morning afta e struggle against mesothelioma cancer."

"He dey survived by im wife Elita, im children Jan and Susan and im grandchildren," e tok.

Di foundation bin announce say dem diagnose am wit cancer for June, dis year - Di kain cancer wey dey affect di lining of di lungs.

FW de Klerk Profile

Dem born FW de Klerk into a family of Afrikaner politicians for March 1936 for Johannesburg.

E bin work as lawyer and serve for different ministerial posts before e take over from PW Botha as di head of di National Party for February 1989.

Di following year, e announce say im dey remove di ban on parties, e include African National Congress (ANC), Mandela party.

E also announce say Mr Mandela go dey released from prison afta 27 years.

Im actions help bring an end to apartheid era for South Africa plus e become one of di kontri two deputy presidents afta di multi-party elections wey 1994 wey see Mandela become president.

De Klerk retire from politics for 1997, e say : "I dey resign because I dey convinced say na in di best interest of di party and di country."

Although di relationship between Mr de Klerk and Mr Mandela dey often come wit bitter disagreements, di new president describe am as someone of great integrity.

However, e be controversial figure for South Africa.

Many black South Africans dey blame am say e fail to stop violence wen e dey for power, while white extremists see im efforts to end apartheid as betrayal.

Last year, e dey involved inside one katakata where dem accuse am say e play down di seriousness of apartheid. E later tok sorry say im "drag leg" over di mata.

See some tins you need to know about FW de Klerk, South Africa last white president:

Reactions to FW de Klerk

South Africans dey divided over di legacy of FW de Klerk, di last white president of South Africa.

Human rights lawyer Howard Varney describe am as an "apologist for apartheid, e claim till di end say apartheid no be crime against humanity and e no dey so bad", local News24 website reports.

However, opposition politician Bantu Holomisa tok say oga De Klerk help South Africa avoid "bloodbath" as e dey willing to negotiate di end of white-minority rule.

Former opposition leader Tony Leon praise am inside tweet: "Like Mikhail Gorbachev e reform di system he inherit for 1990. And if e no comot for power for 1994, e dey possible say SA go don become like Syria or Venezuela today."

South Africa main opposition party, di Democratic Alliance, say FW de Klerk contribution to di kontri change to democracy no fit dey over-emphasized.

"Im decision, within a year to take over di presidency from PW Botha for 1989, to remove ban from liberation movements, release Nelson Mandela from prison, lift di ban on political marches and begin di four year negotiation process towards our first democratic election na important moment for our kontri history," DA leader Johan Steenhuisen tok inside statement.