President F.W. de Klerk promises repeal of apartheid laws

Date: 1 Feb 1991
Updated: 1 Feb 2020

<p>F. W. de Klerk <a href='https://www.sutori.com/story/nelson-mandela-visual-timeline--HvAqmVUYQuHrDpZXPRd741MS' target='_blank'> Source: Nelson Mandela Visual Timeline</a></p> — F. W. de Klerk Source: Nelson Mandela Visual Timeline

The circumstances that led to the repealing and ultimate dismantling of the Apartheid structure was similar to those that led to the earlier proclamation made by then President F.W. de Klerk to free the jailed ANC leader Nelson Mandela and others and to unban political organizations.

The announcement was made in Parliament on 1 February 1991 by de Klerk that he intended to repeal apartheid laws and was met with ridicule by some members of parliament and outright hostility by others. Gradually laws that supported Apartheid were either changed or scrapped altogether.

This was used as a motivation to argue for the lifting of economic sanctions against South Africa. However, most of the world was sceptical of de Klerk's actions and thus kept most of the sanctions in place at the time.

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How we know this

01Ottaway, D.B., (1991), "Abolition of Apartheid Acts Planned", from The Washington post, 02 February, [online], Available at washingtonpost.com [Accessed: 25 January 2010]
02Wren, C.S., (1991), "South Africa moves to scrap Apartheid", from The New York Times, 02 February, [online], Available at nytimes.com [Accessed: 25 January 2010]

Last updated · 1 Feb 2020

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). President F.W. de Klerk promises repeal of apartheid laws. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012946

South African History Online (2011) 'President F.W. de Klerk promises repeal of apartheid laws', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012946 (Accessed: 25 July 2026).

South African History Online, President F.W. de Klerk promises repeal of apartheid laws [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012946, (accessed 25 July 2026).

"President F.W. de Klerk promises repeal of apartheid laws." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012946. Accessed 25 July 2026.

South African History Online. "President F.W. de Klerk promises repeal of apartheid laws." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012946.