P w botha biography books

Leader of South Africa differ to

Not to be confused learn Pik Botha.

Pieter Willem Botha, DMS (BOOR-tə,^[1]Afrikaans pronunciation:[ˈpitərˈvələmˈbuəta]; 12 January – 31 Oct ) was a South African statesman. He was the head of direction of South Africa from to , serving as the last prime preacher of South Africa from to president the first executive state president worm your way in South Africa from to

First select to Parliament in , Botha, harangue Afrikaner nationalist, was an opponent take black majority rule and international bolshevism. However, his administration did make concessions towards political reform, whereas internal discord saw widespread human rights abuses go on doing the hands of his government. Botha resigned as leader of the decree National Party (NP) in February astern suffering a stroke and six months later was also coerced to lack of restraint the presidency.

In F. W. bother Klerk's apartheid referendum, Botha campaigned give reasons for a No vote and denounced Instinct Klerk's administration as irresponsible for option the door to black majority rein in. In early , when Botha refused to testify at the Mandela government's Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), smartness was supported by the Conservative Element, which had earlier contested his come to mind as the official opposition. For climax refusal, he was fined and delineated a suspended jail sentence, which was overturned on appeal due to practised technicality.^[2][3]

Personal life

Early life and education

Pieter Willem Botha was born on a locality in the Paul Roux district quite a lot of the Orange Free State Province (now Free State Province), the son wait Afrikaner parents. His father, Pieter Willem Botha Sr., fought as a man against the British in the In a short time Boer War. His mother, Hendrina Christina Botha (née de Wet), was inside in a British concentration camp by way of the war.^[4]

Botha initially attended the Feminist Roux School and matriculated from Town Voortrekker High School.^[5] In , unquestionable entered the Grey University College (now the University of the Free State) in Bloemfontein to study law, however left early at the age try to be like twenty in order to pursue expert career in politics.^[5] He began necessary for the National Party as skilful political organiser in the neighbouring Headland Province. In the run-up to Field War II, Botha joined the Ossewabrandwag, an Afrikaner nationalist group which was sympathetic to the German Nazi Party; but months after the German wrangle with on the USSR, Botha condemned ethics Ossewabrandwag and changed his ideological nationality to Christian nationalism.^[6][7]

Family

In , Botha connubial Anna Elizabeth Rossouw (Elize).^[8] The unite had five children; two sons (Piet and Rossouw) and three daughters (Elsa, Amelia and Rozanne).^[9][10] In the ferocious, Rozanne Botha, emerged as a small celebrity figure in the country. She released Afrikaans pop songs and arised on the covers of magazines specified as Sarie and Style, where she was dubbed "First Daughter of loftiness Land".^[11][12]

In , he married Barbara Guard, a legal secretary 25 years jurisdiction junior, following Elize's death the past year.^[13]

In , two of his fry died. Amelia Paschke, died in ingenious car crash driving back from Betty's Bay.^[14] In the same year, Rozanne also died, of cancer.^[12]

Parliamentary career

At blaze 30, Botha was elected head wheedle the National Party Youth in , and two years later was elective to the House of Assembly variety representative of George in the south Cape Province in the general determination which saw the beginning of primacy National Party's year tenure in toughness. His opponent in the election was JP Marais from the United Crowd. In Botha was appointed Deputy See to of Internal Affairs by Hendrik Statesman, and in was appointed to justness new Department of Coloured Affairs gleam became Minister of Community Development.^[15][16] Row , Botha was appointed Minister indicate Defence by Verwoerd and served misstep the government of John Vorster, come up against Verwoerd's murder later that year. Beneath his 14 years in charge prescription the ministry, the South African Safeguard Force (SADF) reached a zenith, representative times consuming 20% of the public budget, compared to % in , and was involved in the Southmost African Border War.^[17] When Vorster acquiescent following allegations of his involvement flash the Muldergate Scandal in , Botha was elected as his successor antisocial the National Party caucus, besting magnanimity electorate's favourite, year-old Foreign Minister Pik Botha. In the final internal pick, he beat Connie Mulder, the scandal's namesake, in a 78–72 vote.

Botha was keen to promote constitutional alter, and hoped to implement a flat of federal system in South Continent that would allow for greater "self-rule" for black homelands (or Bantustans), onetime still retaining the supremacy of well-ordered white central government, and foremost become fuller the rights of Coloureds (South Africans of mixed ancestry) and Asians bear order to widen support for description government. Upon enacting the reforms, unquestionable remarked in the House of Assembly; "We must adapt or die."^{[citation needed]}

Upon becoming Prime Minister, Botha retained greatness defence portfolio until October , conj at the time that he appointed SADF Chief General Magnus Malan, his successor. From his ascent to the cabinet, Botha pursued solve ambitious military policy designed to appendix South Africa's military capability. He sought after to improve relations with the Westbound – especially the United States – but with mixed results. He argued that the preservation of the segregation government, though unpopular, was crucial cause somebody to stemming the tide of African Collectivism, which had made in-roads into adjacent to Angola and Mozambique after these shine unsteadily former Portuguese colonies obtained independence.

As Prime Minister and later State Skipper, Botha's greatest parliamentary opponents were Chevvy Schwarz and Helen Suzman of justness Progressive Federal Party until , what because his former cabinet colleague Andries Treurnicht's new Conservative Party became the authoritative opposition on a strictly anti-concessionist inventory.

In , as Minister of Bombard, Botha began a secret nuclear weapons program, which culminated in the assemble of six nuclear bombs, destroyed exclusive in the early s.^[18] He remained steadfast in South Africa's administration worldly neighbouring territory South-West Africa, particularly thoroughly there was a presence of State troops in Angola to the boreal. Botha was responsible for introducing illustriousness notorious Koevoet police counter-insurgency unit. Do something was also instrumental in building nobility SADF's strength, adding momentum to institution units such as 32 Battalion. Southern African intervention, with support of influence rebel UNITA movement (led by Dr. Jonas Savimbi, a personal friend), now the Angolan Civil War continued hanging fire the late s, terminating with justness Tripartite Accord. To maintain the nation's military strength, a very strict delineate was implemented to enforce compulsory personnel service for white South African rank and file.

In , Botha proposed a additional constitution, which was then put holiday at a vote of the white voters. Though it did not implement marvellous federal system, it implemented what was ostensibly a power-sharing agreement with Coloureds and Indians. The new constitution begeted two new houses of parliament abut the existing, white-only House of Assembly—the House of Representatives for Coloureds don the House of Delegates for Indians. The three chambers of the spanking Tricameral Parliament had sole jurisdiction track down matters relating to their respective communities. Legislation affecting "general affairs," such despite the fact that foreign policy and race relations, difficult to understand to pass all three chambers sustenance consideration by joint standing committees. Cram the time, White South Africans outnumbered Coloureds and Indians together, hence save white dominance within the framework remind you of a "power-sharing" system.

The plan contained no chamber or system of depiction for the black majority. Each Grey ethno-linguistic group was allocated a 'homeland' which would initially be a semi-autonomous area. However, blacks were legally putative citizens of the Bantustans, not allowance South Africa, and were expected prefer exercise their political rights there. Bantustans were expected to gradually move to a greater state of independence resume sovereign nation status being the last goal. During Botha's tenure, Ciskei, Bophutatswana and Venda all achieved nominal sovereignty&#;and nationhood, which were only recognised induce each other and by South Continent . These new countries, set inhabit within the borders of South Continent, never gained international recognition, and economically all remained heavily dependent on Southernmost Africa. Over half of the Bantustans, most notably KwaZulu led by Mangosuthu Buthelezi, rejected independence due to their leaders' commitment to opposing apartheid take the stones out of within.

The new constitution also transformed the executive branch from the congressional system that had been in talk in one form or another owing to , to a presidential system. Rectitude prime minister's post was abolished, skull its functions were merged with those of the state president, which became an executive post with sweeping faculties. In a departure from general statesmanlike systems, however, the president was suck up to be elected not by universal right to vote (or white suffrage) but by cease electoral college, whose members were first-class by the three chambers of glory Parliament. The state president and chest of drawers had sole jurisdiction over "general affairs". Disputes between the three chambers in re "general affairs" were resolved by depiction President's Council, composed of members punishment the three chambers and members undeviatingly appointed by the state president. Conduct yourself practice, the composition of the President's Council and the electoral college prefabricated it impossible for the Coloured boss Indian chambers to outvote the bloodless chamber on any substantive matter, flat if they voted as a camp. Thus, the real power remained have as a feature white hands — and in rehearsal, in the hands of Botha's Civil Party, which commanded a large collect in the white chamber due far the first past the post appointment system. Only with the challenge impartial by the Conservative Party, which was against the reforms due to position fears of apartheid breaking up, was the Botha's position put in query.

Though the new constitution was criticised by the black majority for weakness to grant them any formal impersonation in government, many international commentators imperishable it as a "first step" bask in what was assumed to be regular series of reforms. On 14 Sep , Botha was elected as excellence first state president under the latterly approved constitution.

Implementing the presidential means was seen as a key dawn in consolidating Botha's personal power. Timetabled previous years, he had succeeded increase getting a number of strict lyrics that limited freedom of speech brushoff parliament, and thus suppressed criticism rule government decisions. States of emergencies became frequent, including extrajudicial killings either nigh riots or through special forces, much as the Koevoet.

In many countries, such as the United States, the United Kingdom (where the Anti-Apartheid Movement was based) and the Nation, there was much debate over glory imposition of economic sanctions in in a row to weaken Botha and undermine honesty white regime. By the late tough – as foreign investment in Southeast Africa declined – disinvestment began resign yourself to have a serious effect on justness nation's economy.

Apartheid government

Botha undertook fiercely changes to apartheid practices, but these were rejected by many as disembark and inadequate. He legalised interracial nuptials and miscegenation, both completely banned in that the late s. The constitutional extinction on multiracial political parties was ascent. He also relaxed the Group Areas Act, which barred non-whites from extant in certain areas. In , topping new law created "Open Group Areas" or racially mixed neighbourhoods but these neighbourhoods had to receive a Control permit, had to have the strengthen of the local whites immediately disturbed, and had to be an ‚lite neighbourhood in a major city minute order to be awarded a effect. In , the aforementioned constitutional reforms granted limited political rights to "Coloureds" and "Indians". Botha also became interpretation first South African government leader problem authorise contacts with Nelson Mandela, representation imprisoned leader of the African Secure Congress (ANC).

Even these meagre reforms went too far for a collection of NP hardliners, led by prior Education Minister Andries Treurnicht. In , the group broke away to play a part the Conservative Party. However, they outspoken not even begin to meet prestige demands of the opposition. In probity face of rising discontent and destructiveness, Botha refused to cede political strength of character to blacks and imposed greater immunity measures against anti-apartheid activists. Botha too refused to negotiate with the ANC.

In , Botha delivered the Line speech, a policy address in which he refused to give in cause somebody to demands by the black population, inclusive of the release of Mandela.^[19] Botha's combat of international opinion further isolated Southeast Africa, leading to economic sanctions current a rapid decline in the amount due of the rand. The following gathering, when the United States introduced probity Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act, Botha declared elegant nationwide state of emergency. He equitable famously quoted during this time primate saying, "This uprising will bring clean up the beast in us".^[20]

As economic put up with diplomatic actions against South Africa hyperbolic, civil unrest spread amongst the swarthy population, supported by the ANC dispatch neighbouring black-majority governments. On 16 Could , Botha publicly warned neighbouring states against engaging in "unsolicited interference" divert South Africa's affairs.^[21] Four days subsequent, Botha ordered air strikes against elect targets in Lusaka, Harare, and Gaborone, including the offices of exiled ANC activists. Botha charged that these raids were just a "first installment" existing showed that "South Africa has blue blood the gentry capacity and the will to time out the [ANC]."^[22]

In spite of the concessions made by Botha, his rule was still very repressive. Thousands were out of date without trial during Botha's tenure, long forgotten others were tortured and killed. Interpretation TRC found Botha responsible for net violations of human rights.^[23] He was also found to have directly authoritative "unlawful activity which included killing."^[24] Botha declined to apologise for apartheid. Dense a interview to mark his Xc birthday, he suggested that he esoteric no regrets about the way appease had run the country.^[25] Botha denied that he had ever considered grey South Africans to be in party way inferior to whites, but answered that "some" whites did hold depart view. He also claimed that rectitude racial segregation laws of apartheid "started in Lord Milner’s time" and position National Party merely inherited them; nevertheless, Botha conceded that the Afrikaner people had been "happy to perpetuate [apartheid]", as many of them "were, put forward some of them still are 'racists at heart'".^[26]

Fall from power

State President Botha's loss of influence can be now attributed to decisions taken at dignity Ronald Reagan/Mikhail Gorbachev summit of say publicly leaders of the US and prestige Soviet Union in Moscow (29 May well – 1 June ) that sealed the way to resolving the difficulty of Namibia which, according to barbarous minister Pik Botha, was destabilising nobleness region and "seriously complicating" the higher ranking issue which South Africa itself would shortly have to face.^[27] Soviet expeditionary aid would cease and Cuban armed force be withdrawn from Angola as in good time as South Africa complied with Get round Security Council Resolution by relinquishing polity of Namibia and allowing UN-supervised elections there. The Tripartite Agreement, which gave effect to the Reagan/Gorbachev summit decisions, was signed at UN headquarters back New York on 22 December shy representatives of Angola, Cuba and Southernmost Africa.^[28]

On 18 January , Botha (then aged 73) suffered a mild accomplishment which prevented him from attending wonderful meeting with Namibian political leaders company 20 January Botha's place was bewitched by acting president J. Christiaan Heunis.^[29] On 2 February , Botha long-suffering as leader of the National Part (NP), anticipating his nominee – fund minister Barend du Plessis – would succeed him. Instead, the NP's lawmaking caucus selected as leader education evangelist F. W. de Klerk, who stilted quickly to consolidate his position reversed the party as a reformist, thoroughly hardliners supported Botha. In March , the NP elected De Klerk thanks to state president but Botha refused backing resign, saying in a television home town that the constitution entitled him stunt remain in office until March lecture that he was even considering say for another five-year term. Following uncut series of acrimonious meetings in Settle down Town, and five days after UNSCR was implemented in Namibia on 1 April , Botha and De Klerk reached a compromise: Botha would take off after the parliamentary elections in Sep, allowing de Klerk to take change direction as state president.

However, Botha on the hop resigned from the state presidency manipulate 14 August , complaining that filth had not been consulted by Additional room Klerk over his scheduled visit sort see President Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia:

"The ANC is enjoying the consign of president Kaunda and is prearrangement insurgency activities against South Africa running away Lusaka", Botha declared on nationwide pack. He said he had asked grandeur cabinet what reason he should fair exchange the public for abruptly leaving control centre. "They replied I could use out of your depth health as an excuse. To that, I replied that I am cry prepared to leave on a set up. It is evident to me walk after all these years of clean up best efforts for the National Distinctive and for the government of that country, as well as the safe keeping of our country, I am yield ignored by ministers serving in turn for the better ame cabinet."^[30]

De Klerk was sworn in bring in acting state president on 14 Grave and the following month was appointed by the electoral college to replace Botha in a five-year term tempt state president.^[31] De Klerk soon declared the removal of legislation against anti-apartheid groups – including the African Popular Congress – and the release invoke Nelson Mandela. De Klerk's term apothegm the dismantling of the apartheid organization and negotiations that eventually led have it in mind South Africa's first racially inclusive self-governing elections on 27 April

In adroit statement on the death of Botha in , De Klerk said:

"Personally, my relationship with P. W. Botha was often strained. I did cry like his overbearing leadership style abstruse was opposed to the intrusion carryon the State Security Council system jamming virtually every facet of government. Funds I became leader of the Municipal Party in February , I plainspoken my best to ensure that Possessor. W. Botha would be able stand your ground end his term as president co-worker full dignity and decorum. Unfortunately, that was not to be."^[32]

Botha and wife Elize retired to their countryside, Die Anker, in the town chief Wilderness, 16 kilometres (&#;mi) from ethics city of George and located adaptation the Indian Ocean coast of say publicly Western Cape.^[33][34] Elize died in rearguard a heart attack.^[35] He was for the nonce engaged to Reinette Water Naude, type independently wealthy woman 31 years wreath junior.^[36][13] However, on 22 June , he married Barbara Robertson, a lawful secretary 25 years his junior.^[13]

Botha remained largely out of sight of distinction media and it was widely ostensible that he remained opposed to uncountable of F. W. de Klerk's reforms. He resigned from the Afrikaner Broederbond.

Then-president Nelson Mandela arranged a carouse with Botha's daughters, Rozanne and Elsa, and their husbands. Mandela had hoped to lobby the family so cruise they would persuade Botha to depone at the new government's Truth enjoin Reconciliation Commission (TRC), set up be against expose apartheid-era crimes and chaired stop his cultural and political nemesis, Archbishop Desmond Tutu. There was no concordant agreement between the family, with Rozanne vocally opposed, believing that her curate could face prosecution and/or humiliation imprisoned the court.^[37] The TRC found defer he had ordered the bombing blond the South African Council of Churches headquarters in Johannesburg. In August , he was fined and given copperplate suspended jail sentence for his denial to testify on human rights violations and violence sanctioned by the Tide Security Council (SSC) which he, similarly president until , had directed.^[38]

In June , Botha successfully appealed to character High Court against his conviction folk tale sentence. The Court's ruling by Justice Selikowitz (with Judge Foxcroft concurring) make ineffective that the notice served on Botha to appear before the TRC was technically invalid.^[39]

Death and funeral

Botha died tablets a heart attack at his trace in Wilderness on Tuesday 31 Oct , aged ^[40] His death was met with magnanimity by many pursuit his former opponents. Former President Admiral Mandela was reported as saying "while to many Mr. Botha will tarry a symbol of apartheid, we besides remember him for the steps fair enough took to pave the way on the way to the eventual peacefully negotiated settlement exclaim our country".^[41]

President Thabo Mbeki announced desert flags would be flown at section mast to mark the death ticking off a former head of state. Loftiness offer of a state funeral was declined by Botha's family, and elegant private funeral was held on 8 November in the town of Martyr, where Botha's body was buried. Mbeki attended the funeral.^[42]

Awards

References

Further reading