Former S. African president off the hook

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, July 30 (UPI) -- The former president of South Africa will not be investigated for crimes allegedly committed during the apartheid era.

The announcement, made by a spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority, came after former Vlakplaas commander Eugene de Kock wanted to discuss with the office what he said was new evidence linking De Klerk to crimes during the apartheid era, the South African Broadcasting Corp. reported Monday.

De Kock is serving a 212-year sentence for crimes committed during the apartheid era, when South Africa's segregation policy was in effect.

De Klerk is widely acknowledged for engineering the end of apartheid and helping the country turn into a multi-racial democracy.