WATCH | FW de Klerk apologises for apartheid in video released after death

Former apartheid president FW de Klerk has apologised for his role in apartheid in a seven-minute video released by his foundation shortly after his death was announced. 

“I am often accused by critics that I, in some way or another, continued to justify apartheid or separate development, as we later preferred to call it. It is true that in my younger years, I defended separate development,” De Klerk says in the video.

“Afterwards, on many occasions, I apologised to the SA public for the pain and indignity that apartheid has brought to people of colour in SA. Many believed me but others didn't.”

De Klerk says that he is apologising once more as the leader of the National Party and in his personal capacity.

“I, without qualification, apologise for the pain and hurt and the indignity and the damage that apartheid has done to black, brown and Indian [people] in SA,” he says in the video. 

De Klerk died in his Cape Town home on Thursday after a long battle with cancer.

He is survived by his wife Elita, his children Jan and Susan, and his grandchildren, his foundation said in a statement. 

“The family will, in due course, make an announcement regarding funeral arrangements,” the foundation said.