This is according to the political analyst at the University of the Free State (UFS), Sethulego Matebesi. He says it was not easy for de Klerk to lead the way towards transforming South Africa.

"He led during a very difficult time in the history of South Africa. During that stage, he was faced with a lot of criticism, especially from the right-wing organisations here in South Africa and also from within the National Party; they aired their voices about being against the move towards transformation."

Matebesi says although liberation movements would like to entirely claim the transformation of apartheid in South Africa, it would not have been such a success without the efforts from De Klerk.

"For De Klerk to have made that decision, for him to have had that vision, to say the route of democracy is the way to go and that is what stand out for me. Some of our liberation movements and political parties that were banned during apartheid will want to claim the victory and say perhaps it had to do with the pressure that came from the liberation movement. But one should never fail to acknowledge that we would not be where we are as a country, if we did not have such a brave leader."

OFM News/Corn Koteli