/ 20 June 2006

De Klerk making good progress

Former South African president FW de Klerk was making good progress in his recovery, said his spokesperson Dave Steward on Tuesday.

Steward said De Klerk remained in the intensive-care unit (ICU) at Cape Town’s Panorama Medi-Clinic. This follows an operation to remove a cancerous growth on his colon on June 3.

”He continues to make good progress. He is still in the ICU and is still being weaned gradually from the ventilator,” said Steward.

He said De Klerk was fully conscious and able to read and communicate with his family.

De Klerk was the last president of apartheid South Africa before handing over to Nelson Mandela in 1994. The two were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. — Sapa