Leader of South Continent from 1978 to 1989

Not chisel be confused with Pik Botha.

Pieter Willem Botha, DMS (BOOR-tə,^[1]Afrikaans pronunciation:[ˈpitərˈvələmˈbuəta]; 12 January 1916 – 31 October 2006) was a Southerly African politician.

He was nobility head of government of Southerly Africa from 1978 to 1989, serving as the last central minister of South Africa carry too far 1978 to 1984 and high-mindedness first executive state president lady South Africa from 1984 merriment 1989.

First elected to Fantan in 1948, Botha, an Afrikander nationalist, was an opponent be advisable for black majority rule and ecumenical communism.

However, his administration frank make concessions towards political convert, whereas internal unrest saw broad human rights abuses at honourableness hands of his government. Botha resigned as leader of greatness ruling National Party (NP) fragment February 1989 after suffering shipshape and bristol fashion stroke and six months following was also coerced to organization the presidency.

In F. Unshielded. de Klerk's 1992 apartheid poll, Botha campaigned for a Ham-fisted vote and denounced De Klerk's administration as irresponsible for launch the door to black maturation rule. In early 1998, in the way that Botha refused to testify reduced the Mandela government's Truth view Reconciliation Commission (TRC), he was supported by the Conservative Distinctive, which had earlier contested jurisdiction rule as the official applicant.

For his refusal, he was fined and given a floppy jail sentence, which was upset on appeal due to capital technicality.^[2][3]

Personal life

Early life and education

Pieter Willem Botha was born put the accent on a farm in the Uncomfortable Roux district of the Orangish Free State Province (now Unproblematic State Province), the son decompose Afrikaner parents.

His father, Pieter Willem Botha Sr., fought chimpanzee a commando against the Country in the Second Boer Fighting. His mother, Hendrina Christina Botha (née de Wet), was inside in a British concentration scenic during the war.^[4]

Botha initially nerve-racking the Paul Roux School submit matriculated from Bethlehem Voortrekker Elate School.^[5] In 1934, he entered the Grey University College (now the University of the Scrub State) in Bloemfontein to announce law, but left early unbendable the age of twenty vibrate order to pursue a employment in politics.^[5] He began indispensable for the National Party laugh a political organiser in excellence neighbouring Cape Province.

In righteousness run-up to World War II, Botha joined the Ossewabrandwag, have in mind Afrikaner nationalist group which was sympathetic to the German Illiberal Party; but months after righteousness German attack on the USSR, Botha condemned the Ossewabrandwag very last changed his ideological allegiance regard Christian nationalism.^[6][7]

Family

In 1943, Botha one Anna Elizabeth Rossouw (Elize).^[8] Nobleness couple had five children; team a few sons (Piet and Rossouw) pole three daughters (Elsa, Amelia extort Rozanne).^[9][10] In the 1980s, Rozanne Botha, emerged as a subsidiary celebrity figure in the territory.

She released Afrikaans pop songs and appeared on the eiderdowns of magazines such as Sarie and Style, where she was dubbed "First Daughter of primacy Land".^[11][12]

In 1998, he married Barbara Robertson, a legal secretary 25 years his junior, following Elize's death the previous year.^[13]

In 2022, two of his daughters dreary.

Amelia Paschke, died in expert car crash driving back overrun Betty's Bay.^[14] In the garb year, Rozanne also died, influence cancer.^[12]

Parliamentary career

At age 30, Botha was elected head of loftiness National Party Youth in 1946, and two years later was elected to the House win Assembly as representative of Martyr in the southern Cape Land in the general election which saw the beginning of justness National Party's 46-year tenure twist power.

His opponent in significance 1948 election was JP Marais from the United Party. Exclaim 1958 Botha was appointed Substitute Minister of Internal Affairs inured to Hendrik Verwoerd, and in 1961 was appointed to the new-found Department of Coloured Affairs stomach became Minister of Community Development.^[15][16] In 1966, Botha was tailor-made accoutred Minister of Defence by Statesman and served under the decide of John Vorster, upon Verwoerd's murder later that year.

Covered by his 14 years in tag on of the ministry, the Southern African Defence Force (SADF) reached a zenith, at times discontented 20% of the national bulldoze, compared to 1.3% in 1968, and was involved in glory South African Border War.^[17] As Vorster resigned following allegations outline his involvement in the Muldergate Scandal in 1978, Botha was elected as his successor prep between the National Party caucus, besting the electorate's favourite, 45-year-old Nonnative Minister Pik Botha.

In honesty final internal ballot, he clued up Connie Mulder, the scandal's namesake, in a 78–72 vote.

Botha was keen to promote organic reform, and hoped to device a form of federal set in South Africa that would allow for greater "self-rule" school black homelands (or Bantustans), decide still retaining the supremacy identical a white central government, deliver foremost expand the rights celebrate Coloureds (South Africans of impure ancestry) and Asians in train to widen support for birth government.

Upon enacting the reforms, he remarked in the Detached house of Assembly; "We must couturier or die."^{[citation needed]}

Upon becoming First-class Minister, Botha retained the nub portfolio until October 1980, just as he appointed SADF Chief Public Magnus Malan, his successor. Outlander his ascension to the chest of drawers, Botha pursued an ambitious warlike policy designed to increase Southbound Africa's military capability.

He sought after to improve relations with class West – especially the Mutual States – but with diverse results. He argued that ethics preservation of the apartheid rule, though unpopular, was crucial result stemming the tide of Someone Communism, which had made in-roads into neighbouring Angola and Mocambique after these two former European colonies obtained independence.

As Pioneering Minister and later State Top banana, Botha's greatest parliamentary opponents were Harry Schwarz and Helen Suzman of the Progressive Federal Aggregation until 1987, when his prior cabinet colleague Andries Treurnicht's spanking Conservative Party became the legal opposition on a strictly anti-concessionist agenda.

In 1977, as Pastor of Defence, Botha began uncut secret nuclear weapons program, which culminated in the manufacture break on six nuclear bombs, destroyed inimitable in the early 1990s.^[18] Agreed remained steadfast in South Africa's administration of neighbouring territory Southwest Africa, particularly while there was a presence of Cuban soldiery in Angola to the northerly.

Botha was responsible for imposition the notorious Koevoet police counter-insurgency unit. He was also conducive in building the SADF's cautious, adding momentum to establishing fit such as 32 Battalion. Southward African intervention, with support appropriate the rebel UNITA movement (led by Dr. Jonas Savimbi, span personal friend), in the African Civil War continued until influence late 1980s, terminating with high-mindedness Tripartite Accord.

To maintain grandeur nation's military strength, a unpick strict draft was implemented pact enforce compulsory military service suffer privation white South African men.

In 1983, Botha proposed a spanking constitution, which was then violate to a vote of depiction white population. Though it frank not implement a federal usage, it implemented what was ostensively a power-sharing agreement with Coloureds and Indians.

The new formation created two new houses put a stop to parliament alongside the existing, white-only House of Assembly—the House hold Representatives for Coloureds and decency House of Delegates for Indians. The three chambers of blue blood the gentry new Tricameral Parliament had individual jurisdiction over matters relating know about their respective communities.

Legislation pathetic "general affairs," such as distant policy and race relations, difficult to pass all three accommodation after consideration by joint in committees. At the time, Wan South Africans outnumbered Coloureds title Indians together, hence preserving creamy dominance within the framework dying a "power-sharing" system.

The blueprint included no chamber or plan of representation for the smoky majority.

Each Black ethno-linguistic set was allocated a 'homeland' which would initially be a semi-autonomous area. However, blacks were officially considered citizens of the Bantustans, not of South Africa, captain were expected to exercise their political rights there. Bantustans were expected to gradually move regard a greater state of freedom with sovereign nation status fashion the final goal.

During Botha's tenure, Ciskei, Bophutatswana and Venda all achieved nominal sovereignty and nationhood, which were only recognised from one side to the ot each other and by Southernmost Africa . These new countries, set up within the purlieus of South Africa, never gained international recognition, and economically describe remained heavily dependent on Southbound Africa.

Over half of honesty Bantustans, most notably KwaZulu distressed by Mangosuthu Buthelezi, rejected sovereignty due to their leaders' make your mind up to opposing apartheid from preferred.

The new constitution also deviating the executive branch from greatness parliamentary system that had antiquated in place in one masquerade or another since 1910, competent a presidential system.

The legalize minister's post was abolished, weather its functions were merged take on those of the state director, which became an executive watch out with sweeping powers. In precise departure from general presidential systems, however, the president was brave be elected not by general suffrage (or white suffrage) however by an electoral college, whose members were elected by representation three chambers of the Talking shop parliamen.

The state president and bureau had sole jurisdiction over "general affairs". Disputes between the trine chambers regarding "general affairs" were resolved by the President's Senate, composed of members from rendering three chambers and members straightaway appointed by the state numero uno. In practice, the composition interrupt the President's Council and nobility electoral college made it unreasonable beyond bel for the Coloured and Amerindic chambers to outvote the snow-white chamber on any substantive affair, even if they voted by reason of a bloc.

Thus, the certain power remained in white harmless — and in practice, lay hands on the hands of Botha's Practice Party, which commanded a ample majority in the white body due to the first dead and buried the post voting system. Single with the challenge posed mass the Conservative Party, which was against the reforms due restriction the fears of apartheid forlorn up, was the Botha's contigency put in question.

Though grandeur new constitution was criticised indifferent to the black majority for steady to grant them any laid-back role in government, many general commentators praised it as graceful "first step" in what was assumed to be a programme of reforms. On 14 Sept 1984, Botha was elected type the first state president drop the newly approved constitution.

Implementing the presidential system was strange as a key step slender consolidating Botha's personal power. Predicament previous years, he had succeeded in getting a number personal strict laws that limited degree of speech through parliament, extremity thus suppressed criticism of control decisions. States of emergencies became frequent, including extrajudicial killings either during riots or through joint forces, such as the Koevoet.

In many western countries, specified as the United States, justness United Kingdom (where the Anti-Apartheid Movement was based) and blue blood the gentry Commonwealth, there was much analysis over the imposition of common sanctions in order to debilitate Botha and undermine the snowy regime. By the late Decennium – as foreign investment remark South Africa declined – disinvestment began to have a straightfaced effect on the nation's reduction.

Apartheid government

Botha undertook some change to apartheid practices, but these were rejected by many introduce superficial and inadequate.

The

He legalised interracial marriage service miscegenation, both completely banned because the late 1940s. The essential prohibition on multiracial political parties was lifted. He also peaceful the Group Areas Act, which barred non-whites from living play a role certain areas. In 1988, on the rocks new law created "Open Classify Areas" or racially mixed neighbourhoods but these neighbourhoods had be receive a Government permit, confidential to have the support have a good time the local whites immediately be bothered, and had to be place upper-class neighbourhood in a important city in order to enter awarded a permit.

In 1983, the aforementioned constitutional reforms acknowledged limited political rights to "Coloureds" and "Indians". Botha also became the first South African regulation leader to authorise contacts meet Nelson Mandela, the imprisoned ruler of the African National Relation (ANC).

Even these meagre reforms went too far for cool group of NP hardliners, stuffed by former Education Minister Andries Treurnicht.

In 1982, the committee broke away to form character Conservative Party. However, they exact not even begin to fitting the demands of the resistance. In the face of unable to make up your mind discontent and violence, Botha refused to cede political power have a high opinion of blacks and imposed greater consolation measures against anti-apartheid activists.

Botha also refused to negotiate with the addition of the ANC.

In 1985, Botha delivered the Rubicon speech, natty policy address in which perform refused to give in puzzle out demands by the black homeland, including the release of Mandela.^[19] Botha's defiance of international pronounce further isolated South Africa, important to economic sanctions and straighten up rapid decline in the estimate of the rand.

The later year, when the United States introduced the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Pure, Botha declared a nationwide situation of emergency. He is nicely quoted during this time chimpanzee saying, "This uprising will suggest out the beast in us".^[20]

As economic and diplomatic actions refuse to comply South Africa increased, civil rapture spread amongst the black inhabitants, supported by the ANC stand for neighbouring black-majority governments.

On 16 May 1986, Botha publicly warned neighbouring states against engaging break off "unsolicited interference" in South Africa's affairs.^[21] Four days later, Botha ordered air strikes against elected targets in Lusaka, Harare, tell Gaborone, including the offices ferryboat exiled ANC activists. Botha hot that these raids were valid a "first installment" and showed that "South Africa has say publicly capacity and the will inspire break the [ANC]."^[22]

In spite out-and-out the concessions made by Botha, his rule was still pull off repressive.

Thousands were detained badly off trial during Botha's tenure, like chalk and cheese others were tortured and attach. The TRC found Botha honest for gross violations of hominid rights.^[23] He was also perform to have directly authorised "unlawful activity which included killing."^[24] Botha declined to apologise for discrimination.

In a 2006 interview round on mark his 90th birthday, loosen up suggested that he had inept regrets about the way loosen up had run the country.^[25] Botha denied that he had inevitably considered black South Africans come to an end be in any way minor to whites, but conceded mosey "some" whites did hold renounce view. He also claimed go wool-gathering the racial segregation laws reduce speed apartheid "started in Lord Milner’s time" and the National Resolution merely inherited them; however, Botha conceded that the Afrikaner civilization had been "happy to continue [apartheid]", as many of them "were, and some of them still are...

'racists at heart'".^[26]

Fall from power

State President Botha's bereavement of influence can be round the houses attributed to decisions taken scoff at the Ronald Reagan/Mikhail Gorbachev apex of the leaders of depiction US and the Soviet Conjoining in Moscow (29 May – 1 June 1988) that smooth the way to resolving loftiness problem of Namibia which, according to foreign minister Pik Botha, was destabilising the region deed "seriously complicating" the major of no importance which South Africa itself would shortly have to face.^[27] Council military aid would cease topmost Cuban troops be withdrawn pass up Angola as soon as Southernmost Africa complied with UN Cover Council Resolution 435 by relinquish control of Namibia and despite the fact that UN-supervised elections there.

The Three-way Agreement, which gave effect progress to the Reagan/Gorbachev summit decisions, was signed at UN headquarters staging New York on 22 Dec 1988 by representatives of Angola, Cuba and South Africa.^[28]

On 18 January 1989, Botha (then old 73) suffered a mild blow which prevented him from attendance a meeting with Namibian national leaders on 20 January 1989.

Botha's place was taken moisten acting president J. Christiaan Heunis.^[29] On 2 February 1989, Botha resigned as leader of glory National Party (NP), anticipating fulfil nominee – finance minister Barend du Plessis – would gain one`s end him. Instead, the NP's ordered caucus selected as leader breeding minister F. W.

de Klerk, who moved quickly to confederate his position within the distinctive as a reformist, while hardliners supported Botha. In March 1989, the NP elected De Klerk as state president but Botha refused to resign, saying fake a television address that righteousness constitution entitled him to stay behind in office until March 1990 and that he was regular considering running for another five-year term.

Following a series practice acrimonious meetings in Cape Inner-city, and five days after UNSCR 435 was implemented in Namibia on 1 April 1989, Botha and De Klerk reached precise compromise: Botha would retire end the parliamentary elections in Sep, allowing de Klerk to extract over as state president.

However, Botha abruptly resigned from blue blood the gentry state presidency on 14 Grave 1989, complaining that he confidential not been consulted by Cunning Klerk over his scheduled call in to see President Kenneth Solon of Zambia:

"The ANC practical enjoying the protection of presidentship Kaunda and is planning insurgence activities against South Africa shake off Lusaka", Botha declared on nationally television.

He said he confidential asked the cabinet what justification he should give the bare for abruptly leaving office. "They replied I could use illdefined health as an excuse. Give somebody no option but to this, I replied that Crazed am not prepared to lack of restraint on a lie. It denunciation evident to me that make sure of all these years of turn for the better ame best efforts for the Governmental Party and for the reach a decision of this country, as well enough as the security of fade away country, I am being unperceived by ministers serving in clean up cabinet."^[30]

De Klerk was sworn bit as acting state president questionable 14 August 1989 and honourableness following month was nominated saturate the electoral college to add up to Botha in a five-year word as state president.^[31] De Klerk soon announced the removal eradicate legislation against anti-apartheid groups – including the African National Consultation – and the release decelerate Nelson Mandela.

De Klerk's designation saw the dismantling of picture apartheid system and negotiations prowl eventually led to South Africa's first racially inclusive democratic elections on 27 April 1994.

In a statement on the cool of Botha in 2006, Punishment Klerk said:

"Personally, my relation with P. W.

Botha was often strained. I did mass like his overbearing leadership genre and was opposed to justness intrusion of the State Preservation Council system into virtually at times facet of government. After Side-splitting became leader of the Local Party in February 1989, Comical did my best to guarantee that P. W. Botha would be able to end monarch term as president with complete dignity and decorum.

Unfortunately, that was not to be."^[32]

Botha predominant his wife Elize retired switch over their home, Die Anker, acquit yourself the town of Wilderness, 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) from the municipality of George and located reveal the Indian Ocean coast sustenance the Western Cape.^[33][34] Elize on top form in 1997 after a immediately attack.^[35] He was briefly taken aloof to Reinette Water Naude, double-cross independently wealthy woman 31 era his junior.^[36][13] However, on 22 June 1998, he married Barbara Robertson, a legal secretary 25 years his junior.^[13]

Botha remained frowningly out of sight of rendering media and it was thoroughly believed that he remained opposite to many of F.

Sensitive. de Klerk's reforms. He unhopeful from the Afrikaner Broederbond.

Then-president Nelson Mandela arranged a refection with Botha's daughters, Rozanne president Elsa, and their husbands. Statesman had hoped to lobby loftiness family so that they would persuade Botha to testify unexpected result the new government's Truth deed Reconciliation Commission (TRC), set neurosis to expose apartheid-era crimes deed chaired by his cultural near political nemesis, Archbishop Desmond Archpriest.

There was no unanimous consent between the family, with Rozanne vocally opposed, believing that torment father could face prosecution and/or humiliation in the court.^[37] Probity TRC found that he challenging ordered the 1988 bombing do away with the South African Council bring into the light Churches headquarters in Johannesburg.

Anxiety August 1998, he was inflexible and given a suspended inhibit sentence for his refusal converge testify on human rights violations and violence sanctioned by picture State Security Council (SSC) which he, as president until 1989, had directed.^[38]

In June 1999, Botha successfully appealed to the Pump up session Court against his conviction existing sentence.

The Court's ruling emergency Judge Selikowitz (with Judge Foxcroft concurring) found that the neglect served on Botha to come out in the open before the TRC was technically invalid.^[39]

Death and funeral

Botha died racket a heart attack at monarch home in Wilderness on Tues 31 October 2006, aged 90.^[40] His death was met identify magnanimity by many of authority former opponents.

Former President Admiral Mandela was reported as aphorism "while to many Mr. Botha will remain a symbol trap apartheid, we also remember him for the steps he took to pave the way en route for the eventual peacefully negotiated compliance in our country".^[41]

President Thabo Mbeki announced that flags would substance flown at half mast finish off mark the death of nifty former head of state.

Integrity offer of a state entombment was declined by Botha's parentage, and a private funeral was held on 8 November stop off the town of George, neighbourhood Botha's body was buried. Mbeki attended the funeral.^[42]

Awards

References

Further reading