F.W. de Klerk was the President of South Africa during the end of apartheid. He played a significant role in the country's history by initiating a series of reforms that ultimately led to the dismantling of apartheid policies. Notably, de Klerk worked towards negotiating the end of apartheid, releasing Nelson Mandela from prison, and paving the way for democratic elections in 1994, where Mandela became South Africa's first black president.