Which South African president ended apartheid and freed Nelson Mandela from prison in 1990?

F.W. de Klerk is recognized as the South African president who played a crucial role in ending apartheid, a system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination in South Africa. His government implemented significant reforms aimed at dismantling apartheid structures. Notably, in February 1990, de Klerk announced the unbanning of anti-apartheid political organizations, including the African National Congress (ANC), and that Nelson Mandela would be released from prison after 27 years of incarceration.

This decision was pivotal in the transition towards a multiracial democracy in South Africa. De Klerk's leadership facilitated the negotiations that ultimately led to the end of apartheid and the establishment of a more inclusive political system. His willingness to engage in dialogue with Mandela and other leaders of the anti-apartheid movement marked the beginning of a new chapter in South Africa's history, one characterized by reconciliation rather than continued conflict.