Pik Botha

South African politician (1932-2018)

Roelof Frederik "Pik" Botha, DMS (27 April 1932 – 12 October 2018) was a South African politician. He served as the country's foreign minister in the last years of the apartheid era.

Roelof Frederik Botha
Minister of Mineral and Energy Affairs
In office
27 April 1994 – May 1996
PresidentNelson Mandela
Preceded byGeorge Bartlett
Succeeded byPenuel Maduna
Deputy Leader of the
National Party in Transvaal
In office
1987–1996
LeaderF. W. de Klerk
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
27 April 1977 – 10 May 1994
PresidentF. W. de Klerk (1989-94)
P. W. Botha (1984-89)
Prime MinisterP. W. Botha (1978–84)
B.J. Vorster (1966–78)
Preceded byHilgard Muller
Succeeded byAlfred Nzo
Member of Parliament
In office
1977–1994
ConstituencyWestdene
In office
22 April 1970 – 1974
ConstituencyWonderboom
South African Ambassador to the United States
In office
30 July 1975 – 11 May 1977
Prime MinisterB.J. Vorster
Preceded byJohan Samuel Frederick Botha
Succeeded byDonald Bell Sole
Personal details
Born(1932-04-27)27 April 1932
Rustenburg, Transvaal, South Africa
Died12 October 2018(2018-10-12) (aged 86)
Pretoria, South Africa
Political partyNational
Spouse(s)Helena Susanna Bosman
Ina Joubert m. 27 April 1998
Children2 sons, 2 daughters
Alma materUniversity of Pretoria
OccupationDiplomat and politician
ProfessionLaw

Botha was nicknamed 'Pik' (short for pikkewyn, Afrikaans for 'penguin') because of a perceived likeness to a penguin in his stance, accentuated when he wore a suit.[1]

In 2000, Botha declared his support for Presidents Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki.[2]

Botha died on 12 October 2018 at his home in Pretoria at the age of 86.[3]

References

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  1. A smart penguin, Geoffrey Wheatcroft, The Spectator, 7 April 1984, page 9
  2. BBC Question Time in South Africa: Who's Who, The Daily Telegraph, 12 December 2013
  3. "Former foreign affairs minister Pik Botha dies". Archived from the original on 2018-10-13. Retrieved 2018-10-12.

Other websites

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