Full Biography
Frederik Willem de Klerk was born on March 18, 1936, in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was the seventh child of his parents, Johannes de Klerk and Hendrina Cornelia Coetzer. Both of his parents played a significant role in shaping his early life, and their values and beliefs would ultimately influence his political career.
Johannes de Klerk was a successful politician who served as a member of the South African parliament for more than 20 years. He was a member of the National Party, which was known for its apartheid policies. Apartheid was a system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination that was implemented in South Africa in 1948. Johannes de Klerk was a staunch supporter of apartheid, and he played an active role in promoting and defending the policy.
Hendrina Cornelia Coetzer, on the other hand, was a more progressive figure. She was a teacher and a strong advocate for education. She believed in providing equal opportunities for all children, regardless of their race. Her commitment to education was evident in the way she raised her children. Despite being a member of the white Afrikaner elite, she insisted that her children learn to speak Zulu and other African languages. She also encouraged them to interact with people from different racial backgrounds.
Growing up, Frederik Willem de Klerk was influenced by both of his parents’ contrasting ideologies. He was exposed to his father’s conservative views on apartheid, but he was also influenced by his mother’s more liberal perspective. He was a bright student and excelled academically, attending Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education and later, the University of Pretoria, where he earned a law degree.
Despite his father’s political connections, de Klerk initially pursued a career in law rather than politics. He worked as a lawyer and served as the Chairman of the Transvaal Young National Party. However, his involvement in politics increased as he began to question the legitimacy of the apartheid regime. He became increasingly critical of the government’s policies and called for reform.
In the 1980s, de Klerk’s political career took off when he was appointed as Minister of Mines and Energy. He later served as Minister of Education and as Deputy President of South Africa. In 1989, he was elected as the President of South Africa, succeeding P.W. Botha.
Height and weight
Information about their height is currently unavailable.
Nationality & Ethnicity
Frederik Willem de Klerk’s parents were both white Afrikaners, which means their ethnicity was Afrikaner. Both of de Klerk’s parents were born in South Africa and they are therefore South African citizens, which is their nationality.
Education
Frederik Willem de Klerk’s parents had different levels of education. His father, Johannes de Klerk, completed his high school education and then went on to study law at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa. He became a successful lawyer and later entered politics, serving as a member of parliament for more than 20 years.
His mother, Hendrina Cornelia Coetzer, was a teacher and had a strong commitment to education. She completed her teacher training at the Normal College in Pretoria, South Africa, and then went on to teach at various schools. She was particularly interested in promoting education for girls, which was not always a priority in the Afrikaner community.
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