Together with a collection other document detailed below:
17 size A5 pages of personal handwritten notes by Mr. F.W. de Klerk, former State President of South Africa and Second Deputy President at the time, in preparation for his introductory remarks preceding the National Party's formal submission.
Typed transcript of introductory remarks By Mr F.W. de Klerk, 31st August 1996.
3 typed drafts of the speech, with handwritten annotations by Mr. de Klerk. The third draft is the final version used.
The full National Party Submission to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, by Mr. F.W. de Klerk, Leader of the
National Party, 21 August 1996, Cape Town. 30 pages.
These materials document Mr. de Klerk's preparation for a rare public acknowledgment during the reconciliation process. As the last apartheid-era president and co-recipient of the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize with Nelson Mandela, his 1996 appearance remains a significant, if controversial, episode in transitional justice history. The TRC itself, established under the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act No. 34 of 1995, is widely regarded as a global model for post-conflict healing.
Provenance: A member of the executive of the National Party.
