De Klerk, Marike (1937–2001)
De Klerk, Marike (1937–2001)
South African first lady. Born Marike Willemse, Mar 29, 1937, in South Africa; was stabbed and strangled by a 21-year-old security guard at her waterfront apartment complex in Blaauwberg, just north of Cape Town, Dec 4, 2001; attended Potchefstroom University; m. F.W. de Klerk (president of South Africa), 1959 (div. 1998); children: Jan, Willem and Susan Hillocks.
Led the women's wing of the National Party; was South Africa's first lady (1989–94); married to F.W. de Klerk for 39 years, went through a trying divorce after which husband married his mistress, Elita Giorgiades; battled depression the last years of her life.
See also autobiography, Marike: A Journey Through Summer and Winter.
More From encyclopedia.com
F W De Klerk , de Klerk, F. W.
F. W. de Klerk
Johannesburg, South Africa
South African president and politician
F. W. de Klerk was state president of South Africa f… Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela , Nelson Mandela 1918—
Social and political activist
At a Glance…
Became Political Activist
ANC Banned
Sentenced to Life in Prison
Freed at Last
Hopes… Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki , Mbeki, Thabo Mvuyelwa 1942–
Executive Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa
“It is imperative that the government empower black people not… Jacob Zuma , Zuma, Jacob 1942–
South African politician
Jacob Zuma, a native of South Africa’s Zulu region and longtime member of the African National Congress, h… English , ALTERNATE NAMES: Whites (a generic term that includes Afrikaners)
POPULATION: About 3.1 million
LANGUAGE: English
About 14 percent, or 6.3 million, o… Lewis Nkosi , Nkosi, Lewis 1936–
Writer
Described in South Africa Sunday Times as a “sharp and gifted writer with an irreverent take on life,” Lewis Nkosi has live…
You Might Also Like
NEARBY TERMS
De Klerk, Marike (1937–2001)