Pik Botha | |
|---|---|
 Botha at the White House in 1981 | |
| Minister of Mineral and Energy Affairs | |
| In office 27 April 1994 – May 1996 | |
| President | Nelson Mandela |
| Preceded by | George Bartlett |
| Succeeded by | Penuel Maduna |
| Deputy Leader of the National Party in Transvaal | |
| In office 1987–1996 | |
| Leader | F. W. de Klerk |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 27 April 1977 – 10 May 1994 | |
| President | F. W. de Klerk (1989–94) P. W. Botha (1984–89) |
| Prime Minister | P. W. Botha (1978–84) B.J. Vorster (1966–78) |
| Preceded by | Hilgard Muller |
| Succeeded by | Alfred Nzo |
| Member of Parliament | |
| In office 1977–1994 | |
| Constituency | Westdene, Johannesburg |
| In office 22 April 1970 – 1974 | |
| Constituency | Wonderboom, Pretoria |
| South African Ambassador to the United States | |
| In office 30 July 1975 – 11 May 1977 | |
| Prime Minister | B.J. Vorster |
| Preceded by | Johan Samuel Frederick Botha |
| Succeeded by | Donald Bell Sole |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Roelof Frederik Botha 27 April 1932 Rustenburg, Transvaal, Union of South Africa |
| Died | 12 October 2018 (aged 86) Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa |
| Political party | National (until 1997) |
| Spouses | Helena Susanna Bosman
(m. 1953; died 1996)Ina Joubert (m. 1998) |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | University of Pretoria |
| Occupation | Diplomat and politician |
| Profession | Law |
Roelof Frederik "Pik" Botha, DMS MP (27 April 1932 – 12 October 2018) was a South African politician who served as the country's foreign minister in the last years of the apartheid era, the longest-serving in South African history.[1] Known as a liberal within the party, Botha served to present a friendly, conciliatory face on the regime, while criticised internally. He was a leading contender for the leadership of the National Party upon John Vorster's resignation in 1978, but was ultimately not chosen.[2] Staying in the government after the first non-racial general election in 1994, he served under Mandela as Minister of Mineral and Energy Affairs from 1994 to 1996.
While testifying at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Botha was one of the few officials to repent for his involvement in the apartheid government. He said he'd realized that apartheid was morally wrong in the 1970s, but didn't do enough to "turn the tide" against the regime and prevent atrocities from being committed.[3]
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.[4]
He was not related to Prime Minister (later State President) P. W. Botha, under whom he served as foreign minister for 11 years.[5]
- ^ "Apartheid-era foreign affairs minister Pik Botha has died". TimesLive. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
- ^ "Opinion: FW de Klerk was a pragmatist – not a man driven by ideology". The Independent. 11 November 2021. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ Obituaries, Telegraph (12 October 2018). "Pik Botha, South African government minister forced to defend apartheid – obituary". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
- ^ A smart penguin, Geoffrey Wheatcroft, The Spectator, 7 April 1984, page 9
- ^ Funteriano, Andre (12 October 2018). "Explainer: Are you confusing Pik Botha with PW Botha? Meet both". briefly.co.za. Retrieved 13 October 2018.