Marike de Klerk

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Marike de KlerkFirst Lady of South AfricaIn role 15 August 1989 – 10 May 1994PresidentF. W. de KlerkPreceded byAnna Elizabeth BothaSucceeded byWinnie Madikizela-MandelaPersonal detailsBornMarike Willemse 29 March 1937 Pretoria, Transvaal, Union of South AfricaDied3 December 2001 (aged 64) Cape Town, Western Cape, Republic of South AfricaCause of deathMurderPolitical partyNationalSpouseF. W. de Klerk (m. 1959; div. 1996)Children3Alma materPotchefstroom University left|thumb Marike de Klerk (née Willemse; 29 March 1937 – 3 December 2001) was the First Lady of South Africa, as the wife of State President Frederik Willem de Klerk, from 1989–1994. She was also a politician of the former governing National Party in her own right. De Klerk was murdered in her Cape Town home in 2001. Quotes “It’s good to know that we can have an effect on people across the street as well as those across the ocean,” “We are seldom used to seeing people outside of our cultures.” Williams, Frank B. (5 November 1994). "Marike de Klerk, wife of nation's former leader, and her entourage visit school that aims to interest African Americans in science". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 4 April 2025. Quotes About Her "FW de Klerk later said: "She was deeply distressed by all the chopping and changing which she interpreted as a calculated attempt by Mandela himself to humiliate us... This latest humiliation became too much for her to swallow. She became very critical of Mandela and did not hesitate to voice her criticism." "During her husband's presidency, Marike was the leader of the National Party's women's wing.[8] She also founded the Women's Outreach Foundation (WOF), an organisation that focused on the upliftment of rural women." " In 1990 de Klerk called for women to play a more active role in the political process.[9] In 1993, she was awarded the Woman for Peace Award in Geneva, Switzerland for promoting the well being and development of rural women." Maritz, Loraine (2011). "Party politics jeopardised the credibility of the Women's National Coalition for Afrikaner women in the organisation". New Contree (61): 99–121. hdl:10394/5194. Retrieved 4 April 2025. External Links Category:Women politicians in South Africa Category:Women authors from South Africa Category:1937 births Category:2001 deaths Category:Women born in the 1930s Category:Murdered people