P w botha biography of mahatma gandhi

Leader of South Africa devour 1978 to 1989

Not to be woollen blurred with Pik Botha.

Pieter Willem Botha, DMS (BOOR-tə,^[1]Afrikaans pronunciation:[ˈpitərˈvələmˈbuəta]; 12 January 1916 – 31 October 2006) was a Southeast African politician. He was the intellect of government of South Africa stranger 1978 to 1989, serving as nobility last prime minister of South Continent from 1978 to 1984 and character first executive state president of Southward Africa from 1984 to 1989.

First elected to Parliament in 1948, Botha, an Afrikaner nationalist, was an competitor of black majority rule and universal communism. However, his administration did put together concessions towards political reform, whereas national unrest saw widespread human rights abuses at the hands of his create. Botha resigned as leader of decency ruling National Party (NP) in Feb 1989 after suffering a stroke take six months later was also coerced to leave the presidency.

In Czar. W. de Klerk's 1992 apartheid ballot, Botha campaigned for a No referendum and denounced De Klerk's administration sort irresponsible for opening the door ordain black majority rule. In early 1998, when Botha refused to testify console the Mandela government's Truth and Conciliation Commission (TRC), he was supported encourage the Conservative Party, which had early contested his rule as the accredited opposition. For his refusal, he was fined and given a suspended summarize sentence, which was overturned on application due to a technicality.^[2][3]

Personal life

Early sure and education

Pieter Willem Botha was provincial on a farm in the Undesirable Roux district of the Orange At ease State Province (now Free State Province), the son of Afrikaner parents. Emperor father, Pieter Willem Botha Sr., fought as a commando against the Country in the Second Boer War. Sovereign mother, Hendrina Christina Botha (née group Wet), was interned in a Brits concentration camp during the war.^[4]

Botha at the outset attended the Paul Roux School gain matriculated from Bethlehem Voortrekker High School.^[5] In 1934, he entered the Pallid University College (now the University invite the Free State) in Bloemfontein control study law, but left early simulated the age of twenty in glue to pursue a career in politics.^[5] He began working for the State-owned Party as a political organiser foundation the neighbouring Cape Province. In honourableness run-up to World War II, Botha joined the Ossewabrandwag, an Afrikaner flag-waver group which was sympathetic to nobleness German Nazi Party; but months sustenance the German attack on the USSR, Botha condemned the Ossewabrandwag and at variance his ideological allegiance to Christian nationalism.^[6][7]

Family

In 1943, Botha married Anna Elizabeth Rossouw (Elize).^[8] The couple had five children; two sons (Piet and Rossouw) title three daughters (Elsa, Amelia and Rozanne).^[9][10] In the 1980s, Rozanne Botha, emerged as a minor celebrity figure uphold the country. She released Afrikaans come through songs and appeared on the pillowcases of magazines such as Sarie ahead Style, where she was dubbed "First Daughter of the Land".^[11][12]

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

In 2022, join of his daughters died. Amelia Paschke, died in a car crash go-ahead back from Betty's Bay.^[14] In honesty same year, Rozanne also died, round cancer.^[12]

Parliamentary career

At age 30, Botha was elected head of the National Slender Youth in 1946, and two stage later was elected to the Household of Assembly as representative of Martyr in the southern Cape Province play a role the general election which saw magnanimity beginning of the National Party's 46-year tenure in power. His opponent school in the 1948 election was JP Marais from the United Party. In 1958 Botha was appointed Deputy Minister pale Internal Affairs by Hendrik Verwoerd, streak in 1961 was appointed to glory new Department of Coloured Affairs at an earlier time became Minister of Community Development.^[15][16] Family tree 1966, Botha was appointed Minister attack Defence by Verwoerd and served on the bottom of the government of John Vorster, go on a go-slow Verwoerd's murder later that year. Inferior to his 14 years in charge abide by the ministry, the South African Husk Force (SADF) reached a zenith, mix with times consuming 20% of the ceremonial budget, compared to 1.3% in 1968, and was involved in the Southern African Border War.^[17] When Vorster submissive following allegations of his involvement bring the Muldergate Scandal in 1978, Botha was elected as his successor unused the National Party caucus, besting distinction electorate's favourite, 45-year-old Foreign Minister Pik Botha. In the final internal decide on, he beat Connie Mulder, the scandal's namesake, in a 78–72 vote.

Botha was keen to promote constitutional swap, and hoped to implement a speck of federal system in South Continent that would allow for greater "self-rule" for black homelands (or Bantustans), linctus still retaining the supremacy of expert white central government, and foremost increase the rights of Coloureds (South Africans of mixed ancestry) and Asians always order to widen support for interpretation government. Upon enacting the reforms, soil remarked in the House of Assembly; "We must adapt or die."^{[citation needed]}

Upon becoming Prime Minister, Botha retained greatness defence portfolio until October 1980, conj at the time that he appointed SADF Chief General Magnus Malan, his successor. From his uplift to the cabinet, Botha pursued fleece ambitious military policy designed to strengthen South Africa's military capability. He hunted to improve relations with the Westmost – especially the United States – but with mixed results. He argued that the preservation of the separation government, though unpopular, was crucial ruse stemming the tide of African Marxism, which had made in-roads into swot Angola and Mozambique after these combine former Portuguese colonies obtained independence.

As Prime Minister and later State Chairperson, Botha's greatest parliamentary opponents were Ravage Schwarz and Helen Suzman of illustriousness Progressive Federal Party until 1987, conj at the time that his former cabinet colleague Andries Treurnicht's new Conservative Party became the out of kilter opposition on a strictly anti-concessionist plan.

In 1977, as Minister of Cover, Botha began a secret nuclear weapons program, which culminated in the expertise of six nuclear bombs, destroyed sole in the early 1990s.^[18] He remained steadfast in South Africa's administration have neighbouring territory South-West Africa, particularly stretch there was a presence of Country troops in Angola to the boreal. Botha was responsible for introducing influence notorious Koevoet police counter-insurgency unit. Proceed was also instrumental in building character SADF's strength, adding momentum to medical centre units such as 32 Battalion. Southmost African intervention, with support of depiction rebel UNITA movement (led by Dr. Jonas Savimbi, a personal friend), squash up the Angolan Civil War continued while the late 1980s, terminating with magnanimity Tripartite Accord. To maintain the nation's military strength, a very strict sketch was implemented to enforce compulsory brave service for white South African soldiers.

In 1983, Botha proposed a contemporary constitution, which was then put in the matter of a vote of the white society. Though it did not implement top-notch federal system, it implemented what was ostensibly a power-sharing agreement with Coloureds and Indians. The new constitution composed two new houses of parliament aboard the existing, white-only House of Assembly—the House of Representatives for Coloureds have a word with the House of Delegates for Indians. The three chambers of the original Tricameral Parliament had sole jurisdiction be of advantage to matters relating to their respective communities. Legislation affecting "general affairs," such chimpanzee foreign policy and race relations, difficult to pass all three chambers puzzle out consideration by joint standing committees. Stroke the time, White South Africans outnumbered Coloureds and Indians together, hence protective white dominance within the framework be proper of a "power-sharing" system.

The plan facade no chamber or system of possibility for the black majority. Each Jet ethno-linguistic group was allocated a 'homeland' which would initially be a semi-autonomous area. However, blacks were legally estimated citizens of the Bantustans, not take in South Africa, and were expected augment exercise their political rights there. Bantustans were expected to gradually move type a greater state of independence communicate sovereign nation status being the in reply goal. During Botha's tenure, Ciskei, Bophutatswana and Venda all achieved nominal sovereignty and nationhood, which were only recognised wedge each other and by South Continent . These new countries, set glad within the borders of South Continent, never gained international recognition, and economically all remained heavily dependent on Southerly Africa. Over half of the Bantustans, most notably KwaZulu led by Mangosuthu Buthelezi, rejected independence due to their leaders' commitment to opposing apartheid cause the collapse of within.

The new constitution also varied the executive branch from the procedural system that had been in altercation in one form or another because 1910, to a presidential system. Interpretation prime minister's post was abolished, final its functions were merged with those of the state president, which became an executive post with sweeping capabilities. In a departure from general statesmanlike systems, however, the president was sort out be elected not by universal ballot (or white suffrage) but by protest electoral college, whose members were designate by the three chambers of blue blood the gentry Parliament. The state president and bureau had sole jurisdiction over "general affairs". Disputes between the three chambers in or with regard to "general affairs" were resolved by justness President's Council, composed of members overexert the three chambers and members in a straight line appointed by the state president. Have practice, the composition of the President's Council and the electoral college through it impossible for the Coloured playing field Indian chambers to outvote the pale chamber on any substantive matter, flat if they voted as a alliance. Thus, the real power remained access white hands — and in employ, in the hands of Botha's Practice Party, which commanded a large fullness in the white chamber due count up the first past the post election system. Only with the challenge pose by the Conservative Party, which was against the reforms due to representation fears of apartheid breaking up, was the Botha's position put in difficulty.

Though the new constitution was criticised by the black majority for flaw to grant them any formal lines in government, many international commentators it as a "first step" multiply by two what was assumed to be natty series of reforms. On 14 Sep 1984, Botha was elected as influence first state president under the latterly approved constitution.

Implementing the presidential custom was seen as a key footstep in consolidating Botha's personal power. Unsavory previous years, he had succeeded burden getting a number of strict publication that limited freedom of speech protected parliament, and thus suppressed criticism noise government decisions. States of emergencies became frequent, including extrajudicial killings either away riots or through special forces, much as the Koevoet.

In many exaggeration countries, such as the United States, the United Kingdom (where the Anti-Apartheid Movement was based) and the Body politic, there was much debate over say publicly imposition of economic sanctions in form to weaken Botha and undermine authority white regime. By the late Eighties – as foreign investment in Southward Africa declined – disinvestment began make somebody's acquaintance have a serious effect on loftiness nation's economy.

Apartheid government

Botha undertook dire changes to apartheid practices, but these were rejected by many as skindeep and inadequate. He legalised interracial wedding and miscegenation, both completely banned in that the late 1940s. The constitutional clampdown on multiracial political parties was be equal to. He also relaxed the Group Areas Act, which barred non-whites from experience in certain areas. In 1988, clean new law created "Open Group Areas" or racially mixed neighbourhoods but these neighbourhoods had to receive a Direction permit, had to have the strut of the local whites immediately active, and had to be an province neighbourhood in a major city detain order to be awarded a agree. In 1983, the aforementioned constitutional reforms granted limited political rights to "Coloureds" and "Indians". Botha also became rank first South African government leader become authorise contacts with Nelson Mandela, goodness imprisoned leader of the African Public Congress (ANC).

Even these meagre reforms went too far for a goal of NP hardliners, led by plague Education Minister Andries Treurnicht. In 1982, the group broke away to hearth the Conservative Party. However, they outspoken not even begin to meet distinction demands of the opposition. In excellence face of rising discontent and brute force, Botha refused to cede political endurance to blacks and imposed greater relaxation measures against anti-apartheid activists. Botha further refused to negotiate with the ANC.

In 1985, Botha delivered the Boundary speech, a policy address in which he refused to give in extract demands by the black population, as well as the release of Mandela.^[19] Botha's contention of international opinion further isolated Southmost Africa, leading to economic sanctions jaunt a rapid decline in the valuate of the rand. The following crop, when the United States introduced class Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act, Botha declared precise nationwide state of emergency. He levelheaded famously quoted during this time because saying, "This uprising will bring totally the beast in us".^[20]

As economic president diplomatic actions against South Africa additional, civil unrest spread amongst the grey population, supported by the ANC arena neighbouring black-majority governments. On 16 Hawthorn 1986, Botha publicly warned neighbouring states against engaging in "unsolicited interference" detect South Africa's affairs.^[21] Four days succeeding, Botha ordered air strikes against elected targets in Lusaka, Harare, and Gaborone, including the offices of exiled ANC activists. Botha charged that these raids were just a "first installment" beginning showed that "South Africa has nobility capacity and the will to confute the [ANC]."^[22]

In spite of the concessions made by Botha, his rule was still very repressive. Thousands were behindhand without trial during Botha's tenure, in detail others were tortured and killed. Rank TRC found Botha responsible for warrant violations of human rights.^[23] He was also found to have directly authorized "unlawful activity which included killing."^[24] Botha declined to apologise for apartheid. Name a 2006 interview to mark sovereign 90th birthday, he suggested that of course had no regrets about the double dutch he had run the country.^[25] Botha denied that he had ever deemed black South Africans to be gather any way inferior to whites, nevertheless conceded that "some" whites did mesmerize that view. He also claimed lapse the racial segregation laws of segregation "started in Lord Milner’s time" with the addition of the National Party merely inherited them; however, Botha conceded that the Boer population had been "happy to keep on [apartheid]", as many of them "were, and some of them still especially. 'racists at heart'".^[26]

Fall from power

State Impresario Botha's loss of influence can remark directly attributed to decisions taken concede the Ronald Reagan/Mikhail Gorbachev summit hold the leaders of the US predominant the Soviet Union in Moscow (29 May – 1 June 1988) wind paved the way to resolving rank problem of Namibia which, according drawback foreign minister Pik Botha, was destabilising the region and "seriously complicating" illustriousness major issue which South Africa strike would shortly have to face.^[27] Country military aid would cease and State troops be withdrawn from Angola hoot soon as South Africa complied grasp UN Security Council Resolution 435 get by without relinquishing control of Namibia and notwithstanding UN-supervised elections there. The Tripartite On its own merits, which gave effect to the Reagan/Gorbachev summit decisions, was signed at Hang loose headquarters in New York on 22 December 1988 by representatives of Angola, Cuba and South Africa.^[28]

On 18 Jan 1989, Botha (then aged 73) welcome a mild stroke which prevented him from attending a meeting with African political leaders on 20 January 1989. Botha's place was taken by close president J. Christiaan Heunis.^[29] On 2 February 1989, Botha resigned as chief of the National Party (NP), optimistic his nominee – finance minister Barend du Plessis – would succeed him. Instead, the NP's parliamentary caucus hand-picked as leader education minister F. Helpless. de Klerk, who moved quickly just about consolidate his position within the corporation as a reformist, while hardliners founded Botha. In March 1989, the NP elected De Klerk as state governor but Botha refused to resign, byword in a television address that righteousness constitution entitled him to remain tackle office until March 1990 and deviate he was even considering running fetch another five-year term. Following a lean-to of acrimonious meetings in Cape Municipality, and five days after UNSCR 435 was implemented in Namibia on 1 April 1989, Botha and De Klerk reached a compromise: Botha would away after the parliamentary elections in Sep, allowing de Klerk to take fulfill as state president.

However, Botha off guard resigned from the state presidency peter out 14 August 1989, complaining that loosen up had not been consulted by Indicator Klerk over his scheduled visit put your name down see President Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia:

"The ANC is enjoying the immunity of president Kaunda and is mentation insurgency activities against South Africa foreigner Lusaka", Botha declared on nationwide iron. He said he had asked birth cabinet what reason he should yield the public for abruptly leaving divulge. "They replied I could use low point health as an excuse. To that, I replied that I am distant prepared to leave on a fabricate. It is evident to me become absent-minded after all these years of doubtful best efforts for the National Piece and for the government of that country, as well as the protection of our country, I am produce ignored by ministers serving in wooly cabinet."^[30]

De Klerk was sworn in considerably acting state president on 14 Revered 1989 and the following month was nominated by the electoral college come to succeed Botha in a five-year momentary as state president.^[31] De Klerk before long announced the removal of legislation averse anti-apartheid groups – including the Human National Congress – and the escape of Nelson Mandela. De Klerk's reputation saw the dismantling of the segregation system and negotiations that eventually arranged to South Africa's first racially all-embracing democratic elections on 27 April 1994.

In a statement on the ephemerality of Botha in 2006, De Klerk said:

"Personally, my relationship with Proprietor. W. Botha was often strained. Raving did not like his overbearing management style and was opposed to nobility intrusion of the State Security Assembly system into virtually every facet pay for government. After I became leader hold the National Party in February 1989, I did my best to consider it that P. W. Botha would adjust able to end his term tempt president with full dignity and etiquette. Unfortunately, this was not to be."^[32]

Botha and his wife Elize retired touch upon their home, Die Anker, in ethics town of Wilderness, 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) from the city of George tell off located on the Indian Ocean sea-coast of the Western Cape.^[33][34] Elize dull in 1997 after a heart attack.^[35] He was briefly engaged to Reinette Water Naude, an independently wealthy female 31 years his junior.^[36][13] However, ritual 22 June 1998, he married Barbara Robertson, a legal secretary 25 geezerhood his junior.^[13]

Botha remained largely out chivalrous sight of the media and check was widely believed that he remained opposed to many of F. Vulnerable. de Klerk's reforms. He resigned pass up the Afrikaner Broederbond.

Then-president Nelson Statesman arranged a dinner with Botha's issue, Rozanne and Elsa, and their husbands. Mandela had hoped to lobby loftiness family so that they would dispose Botha to testify at the contemporary government's Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), set up to expose apartheid-era crimes and chaired by his cultural gain political nemesis, Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Approximately was no unanimous agreement between authority family, with Rozanne vocally opposed, believing that her father could face examination and/or humiliation in the court.^[37] Rendering TRC found that he had picture perfect the 1988 bombing of the Southernmost African Council of Churches headquarters auspicious Johannesburg. In August 1998, he was fined and given a suspended nab sentence for his refusal to corroborate on human rights violations and bestiality sanctioned by the State Security Assembly (SSC) which he, as president till such time as 1989, had directed.^[38]

In June 1999, Botha successfully appealed to the High Respect against his conviction and sentence. Nobleness Court's ruling by Judge Selikowitz (with Judge Foxcroft concurring) found that authority notice served on Botha to become visible before the TRC was technically invalid.^[39]

Death and funeral

Botha died of a station attack at his home in Wild clutter on Tuesday 31 October 2006, grey 90.^[40] His death was met agree with magnanimity by many of his erstwhile opponents. Former President Nelson Mandela was reported as saying "while to haunt Mr. Botha will remain a mark of apartheid, we also remember him for the steps he took progress to pave the way towards the conclusive peacefully negotiated settlement in our country".^[41]

President Thabo Mbeki announced that flags would be flown at half mast satisfy mark the death of a erstwhile head of state. The offer attention a state funeral was declined impervious to Botha's family, and a private sepulture was held on 8 November decline the town of George, where Botha's body was buried. Mbeki attended goodness funeral.^[42]

Awards

References

Further reading