Former president of South Africa, F.W.de Klerk, has died at the age of 85. Mr de Klerk was the apartheid-era leader who brought an end to white minority rule in the Southern African nation.

News of his demise was announced by the FW de Klerk Foundation on Thursday. 

“Former President F.W. de Klerk died peacefully at his home in Fresnaye (Cape Town) earlier this morning following his struggle against mesothelioma cancer,” the statement said, “He is survived by his wife Elita, his children Jan and Susan and his grandchildren.” 

Mr de Klerk had served as head of state between September 1989 and May 1994. He worked as a lawyer before taking over from P.W. Botha as the head of the National Party in February 1989.

In 1990, Mr de Klerk had announced that anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela would be released, this action aided the country’s transition to democracy, leading up to the multi-party elections that held in 1994.

Mr de Klerk became one of the country’s two deputy presidents after the multi-party elections in 1994 that saw Mr Mandela become president.

Mr de Klerk shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Mr Mandela in 1993 for leading the “miracle” transition from white rule in the country.

Many South Africans nonetheless believe Mr de Klerk never did enough to fully atone for apartheid or for the human rights abuses carried out by the security forces when he was president.

Mr de Klerk is survived by his wife Elita, his children Jan and Susan, as well as his grandchildren, the foundation said.