P.W. Botha
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P. W. Botha DMS |
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|---|---|
 |
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| State President of South Africa | |
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In office 3 September 1984 – 15 August 1989 Acting until 14 September 1984 |
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| Preceded by |
Marais Viljoen Non-executive |
| Succeeded by | F. W. de Klerk |
| 8th Prime Minister of South Africa | |
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In office 9 October 1978 – 14 September 1984 |
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| President | Marais Viljoen Balthazar Johannes Vorster Marais Viljoen |
| Preceded by | Balthazar Johannes Vorster |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Pieter Willem Botha 12 January 1916 Paul Roux, Orange Free State Province, South Africa |
| Died | 31 October 2006 (aged 90) Wilderness, Western Cape, South Africa |
| Nationality | South African |
| Political party | National Party |
| Spouse(s) |
Elize Botha (1943-1997) (her death) Barbara Robertson (1998-2006; his death) |
| Children | Rossouw Pieter Willem Elanza Amelia Rozanne |
| Alma mater | Grey University College |
| Profession | Politician |
| Religion | Dutch Reformed Church |
Pieter Willem Botha, DMS (Afrikaans pronunciation: [ˈpitər ˈvələm ˈbʊəta]; 12 January 1916 – 31 October 2006), commonly known as "P. W." and Die Groot Krokodil (Afrikaans for "The Big Crocodile"), was the leader of South Africa from 1978 to 1989, serving as the last Prime Minister from 1978 to 1984 and the first executive State President from 1984 to 1989.
First elected to Parliament in 1948, Botha was an outspoken opponent of majority rule and international communism. However, his administration did make concessions towards political reform, whereas internal unrest saw widespread human rights abuses at the hands of the government. Botha resigned the leadership of the ruling National Party in February 1989 after suffering a stroke and six months later was coerced to leave the presidency as well.
In F. W. de Klerk's 1992 referendum Botha campaigned for a No vote and denounced De Klerk's administration as irresponsible by opening the door to black majority rule. In early 1998, when Botha refused to testify at the Mandela government's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, he was supported by the right-wing Conservative Party, which had earlier contested his rule as the official opposition. For his refusal, he was fined and given a suspended jail sentence for crimes against human rights. Shortly before his death in late 2006, he renewed his opposition towards egalitarian democracy in favour of a confederate system based upon the principles of "separate development".
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