Late former South African president FW de Klerk’s Nobel Peace Prize medal has been stolen from his home in Cape Town, his foundation confirmed.

The last president under apartheid was jointly awarded the prize – an 18 carat gold with Nelson Mandela in 1993 for their roles in South Africa’s peaceful transition to democracy.

The foundation did not give further details, but local media reported it was taken during a robbery at his Cape Town home.

Speaking to local news media De Klerk’s widow said she returned home from a trip abroad to find the safe in her home “nearly empty”.

“A lot of my jewellery was taken – it is difficult to put a price to it, as the pieces that were taken were given to me over the last 50 years for occasions, plus I had pieces that I inherited from my mother,” she added.

She said she was not hopeful that the stolen items would be recovered.

De Klerk became president in 1989 and died in 2021.