Twitter reacts to death of FW de Klerk

FW de Klerk served as state president of South Africa from 1989 to 1994 and as deputy president from 1994 to 1996. Picture: Henk Kruger/African News Agency (ANA)

FW de Klerk served as state president of South Africa from 1989 to 1994 and as deputy president from 1994 to 1996. Picture: Henk Kruger/African News Agency (ANA)

Published Nov 11, 2021

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Cape Town – Social media was set alight following the death of FW de Klerk, the last president of apartheid South Africa, on Thursday.

The FW de Klerk Foundation released a statement announcing that he had died at his home in Cape Town following a struggle with mesothelioma cancer.

The 85-year-old was president of South Africa from 1989 to 1994 and was one of two deputy presidents for Nelson Mandela after the 1994 democratic elections.

The news of his death spread rapidly across the globe and trended on social media with more than 35,000 tweets. Social media users were brutal in their reactions to the news, especially to the headlines from international publications.

“Today the BBC deliberately chose to insult the great name of our struggle icon, Nelson Mandela and all those who died,” tweeted Patricia Kumalo.

“Let the actual South Africans write the headline for you,” tweeted Khanya Thembane.

Meanwhile, another user wrote “Thank you God” and many others continued in the same vein.

— Evil Greek (@Helstrom_Greko) November 11, 2021

While some thought those in the beyond were awaiting the arrival of de Klerk.

— Exclusive Banks🤴🏾 (@bandile_banks) November 11, 2021
— SiyaH Mdluli 🇿🇦 (@SihleMahamba) November 11, 2021
— Mhayise (@samk3lisiwe) November 11, 2021
— Bastardized (@MrNyikilana) November 11, 2021

African News Agency (ANA)

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