Guard Held in S. Africa Death

Authorities have detained a security guard for questioning in connection with the killing of Marike de Klerk, the former wife of apartheid South Africa’s last president, Frederik W. de Klerk, police said Thursday.

Police stressed that the man, whom they would not identify, had not been arrested and that the crime and potential suspects were still being investigated.

“We are still on the scene busy obtaining information,” police spokesman Wicus Holtzhauzen said. “We are still looking for a motive.”

Marike de Klerk’s body was discovered by her hairdresser at her Cape Town home Tuesday afternoon, about 30 hours after her time of death as estimated by coroners. An autopsy revealed that De Klerk, 64, had been strangled and stabbed in the back. Nothing was missing from her house.

The detained guard worked at the housing complex where De Klerk lived, the South African Press Assn. reported, quoting the company that provided security at the complex.

“He has an impeccable record and had been earmarked for promotion. He was very diligent, efficient and hard-working,” said Evelyn Holtzhausen, a spokeswoman for Securicor Gray, according to SAPA.

Frederik W. de Klerk was South Africa’s last president under apartheid and gave up power to Nelson Mandela after the nation’s first all-race elections in 1994.

The De Klerks divorced in 1998 after 39 years of marriage.

South Africa has one of the world’s highest murder rates, with more than 9,800 homicides committed in the first half of this year, according to police statistics.