On Friday, November 11, South Africa honoured the first anniversary of the passing of Frederik Willem de Klerk, its former President and Nobel Peace Prize winner.
The FW de Klerk Foundation takes great pleasure in presenting the annual FW de Klerk Memorial Lecture as one of its actions to commemorate the former president’s legacy on the anniversary of his passing each year. As a guest speaker of honour, the inaugural lecture on “FW de Klerk and the need for another new beginning” was delivered by Lord Renwick of Clifton KCMG. The British Ambassador to South Africa in the early 1990s, Robin Renwick had the unique opportunity to observe the process of constitutional transformation and was in close contact with its main actors. The meeting took place in Cape Town, but the inaugural lecture was streamlined online via Facebook.
In his speech, Lord Renwick (see photo above), shared his personal insights into South Africa’s democratic transition process of the early 1990s and takes stock of the current social, political and economic challenges South Africa is facing. He recalled President De Klerk’s courage for a new beginning and setting the country on a path to a brighter future that can serve as an inspiration for today’s and future leaders.
Lord Renwick’s speech in full is available here. The full transcript is also available.
You can also watch the FW de Klerk Memorial Lecture highlight video:
