A state memorial was held in Cape Town for FW De Klerk, South Africa's last apartheid president, on 12 December.

The ceremony was held at the Groote Kerk, South Africa's oldest church.

De Klerk was the president that oversaw South Africa’s last apartheid government.

His family buried him in a private funeral ceremony last month.

There was initially public outcry about honouring De Klerk with a state funeral because of his government’s involvement in massacres and death squads targeting political opponents.

The Archbishop of Cape Town, Thabo Makgoba, oversaw the memorial service and acted as a spiritual adviser to De Klerk and his wife, Elita.

De Klerk is survived by his wife, two children (Jan and Susan) and several grandchildren.

President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the eulogy and said De Klerk’s place in the hierarchy of the oppressive apartheid state cannot be ignored.

Ramaphosa led the ruling ANC’s (African National Congress) negotiating team which resulted in South Africa’s first democratic elections and a new constitution.

Former opposition leader, Helen Zille, of the Democratic Alliance said FW De Klerk had the foresight to see an opportunity after the fall of the Berlin Wall, to negotiate a political settlement to benefit all South Africans.

A state memorial was held at the Groote Klerk in Cape Town for South Africa’s last apartheid president, FW De Klerk. De Klerk who served as state president, oversaw South Africa’s last apartheid government.

De Klerk on 11 November and his family buried him in a private funeral ceremony. There was initial public outcry about honouring De Klerk with a state funeral because of his government’s involvement in massacres and death squads which targeted political opponents.

The Archbishop of Cape Town, Thabo Makgoba, oversaw the memorial service and acted as a spiritual adviser to De Klerk and his wife, Elita. De Klerk is survived by his wife, two children (Jan and Susan) and several grandchildren.

President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the eulogy and said De Klerk’s place in the hierarchy of the oppressive apartheid state cannot be ignored. Ramaphosa led the ruling ANC’s (African National Congress) negotiating team which resulted in South Africa’s first democratic elections and a new constitution.

Former opposition leader, Helen Zille, of the Democratic Alliance said FW De Klerk had the foresight to see an opportunity after the fall of the Berlin Wall to negotiate a political settlement to benefit all South Africans.