Immigration and police officers stand next to a car believed to have been used in a petrol bomb attack on the Border Force processing centre in Dover
Reuters

The Nobel Peace Prize medal, awarded to the late FW de Klerk, the last apartheid president of South Africa, was robbed from his home almost six months ago as revealed by his foundation on Wednesday.

Klerk, who had ushered South Africa away from racial segregation and into an era of democracy, had received the award jointly with Nelson Mandela, the nation's first black president.

The 18-carat gold medal was nicked from his home in April, reported the news agency AFP. "I can confirm that the Nobel Peace Prize belonging to FW de Klerk was stolen from his home earlier this year," said Brenda Steyn, the foundation's legacy manager.

FW de Klerk passed away from cancer on Nov. 11, 2021. He presided over the nation as the transition from white-minority rule to the first multi-racial elections took place in 1994. De Klerk freed Mandela from prison on Feb. 11, 1990.

The duo was awarded "for their work for the peaceful termination of the apartheid regime, and for laying the foundations for a new democratic South Africa."

Mandela became the first black president of South Africa after the African National Congress party won its first democratic election. By then he had served 27 years in prison.

Elita Georgiades, the widow of the former president, told the news agency that she suspected a former employee who had been in the family for over seven years. She added that the theft had been reported to the Cape Town police.

Several other items, such as jewellery and cash were also stolen, thewest.com.au reported. The police are currently investigating the robbery and are yet to come up with an update on this.

De Klerk remained a controversial and polarizing figure in South Africa. He failed to issue an official apology for the crimes committed by the South African state during the apartheid. He also drew a lot of criticism for saying on record that apartheid was not a crime against humanity. After the backlash, he publicly apologized and withdrew his comments.