FW De Klerk is a notable former leader of South Africa. He served as the last President of apartheid-era South Africa from 1989 to 1994. De Klerk is credited with initiating the process of dismantling the apartheid regime and paving the way for democratic elections in 1994, which saw Nelson Mandela become the first black president of South Africa. For his efforts towards ending apartheid, De Klerk was jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize with Nelson Mandela in 1993.