P. W. Botha

South African prime minister (1916–2006)
(Redirected from Pieter Willem Botha)

Peter William Botha (12 January 1916 – 31 October 2006)[1] was a South African politician.

P. W. Botha
Botha in 1962
State President of South Africa
In office
3 September 1984 (1984-09-03) – 15 August 1989 (1989-08-15)
Acting until 14 September 1984
Preceded byMarais Viljoen
Non-Executive
Succeeded byFrederik Willem de Klerk
Prime Minister of South Africa
In office
9 October 1978 (1978-10-09) – 14 September 1984 (1984-09-14)
PresidentMarais Viljoen
Balthazar Johannes Vorster
Marais Viljoen
Preceded byBalthazar Johannes Vorster
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Personal details
Born
Pieter Willem Botha

(1916-01-12)12 January 1916
Paul Roux, Orange Free State Province, Union of South Africa
Died31 October 2006(2006-10-31) (aged 90)
Wilderness, Western Cape, South Africa
NationalitySouth African
Political partyNational Party
Spouse(s)Elize Botha
(1943-1997) (her death)
Barbara Robertson
(1998-2006) (his death)
ChildrenRossouw, Pieter Willem, Elanza, Amelia, Rozanne
ProfessionPolitician

Botha was the last Prime Minister of the country. In 1984 the office was abolished. After that he served as the first State President. During his political career, he was an opponent of Majority rule and Communism.

When he was first elected to parliament in 1948, he was against black majority rule. In 1992, there was a referendum to allow black majority rule. In that referendum, Botha campaigned for the No vote. Botha supported apartheid throughout his life.

In 2006, Botha died of a heart attack, aged 90.

References

change
  1. "Pieter Willem Botha". South African History Online. January 9, 2015. Retrieved 2 October 2016.