Question

Why are Nelson Mandela and F.W. deKlerk important people in the history of South Africa?

Answer 1

They are key players in dismantling apartheid from South Africa. They important because they achieve this peacefully. It took the work and courage of both men to achieve this historical first.

Explanation:

In December 1989, de Klerk met with the imprisoned leader of the African National Congress (ANC), Nelson Mandela. On 2 February 1990, de Klerk lifted the ban on the ANC, the South African Communist Party (SACP) and the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC). On 11 February Mandela was released. Negotiations with Mandela and other party leaders were held for the peaceful end of apartheid and transition to democratic rule. In 1993, De Klerk and Mandela were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts at reform in South Africa.