Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared five days of mourning for South Africa’s last apartheid-era president FW de Klerk.
De Klerk died last week on Thursday after a battle with cancer.
He was 85.
In a statement on Tuesday, the presidency said Ramaphosa has declared that the National Flag be flown at half-mast as a mark of respect for De Klerk.
President @CyrilRamaphosa has declared that the National Flag be flown at half-mast as a mark of respect for the late former Deputy President FW de Klerk. https://t.co/8LjsBb3P44
— Presidency | South Africa ?? (@PresidencyZA) November 16, 2021
“President Ramaphosa has directed that the National Flag be flown at half-mast from sunset tomorrow, Wednesday, 17 November, until the evening of Sunday, 21 November,” read the statement.
ALSO READ | WATCH | FW de Klerk apologises for apartheid in posthumous video
The FW de Klerk Foundation announced recently that the former president’s cremation and funeral will take place on November 21.
“It will be a private ceremony for family members and will not be open to media,” it said.
The presidency said that government will at a future date host a State Memorial Service in remembrance of De Klerk.
“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,” said the presidency.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
