Dylan Bettencourt
President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a four-day mourning period following the passing of South Africa’s last apartheid president FW de Klerk last week.
The presidency said in a statement that the national flag will be flown at half-mast from Wednesday until Sunday.
The De Klerk family have organised a private funeral this Sunday with the government set to host a state funeral at a later stage.
The 85-year-old De Klerk passed away on Thursday 11 November after a long battle with cancer.
“The Government has consulted the De Klerk family and the FW de Klerk Foundation as part of preparing for this event in which government leaders, leaders of political parties and representatives of civil society will participate,” the presidency said in the statement.
“The FW de Klerk Foundation wishes to announce that FW de Klerk’s cremation and funeral will take place on Sunday 21 November. It will be a private ceremony for family members and will not be open to the media,” the foundation said in a statement.
After De Klerk retired from politics he launched a foundation that aimed to play a part in civil society as a watchdog and think-tank.
