Apartheid-era foreign minister Pik Botha dies

Although he was considered a liberal compared to other apartheid leaders, he was often associated with the government’s defence.

October 12, 2018
Less than a minute
Apartheid era Foreign Minister, Pik Botha gives Winnie Madikizela Mandela a warm embrace at the premiere of Plot for Peace on July 24, 2014 in Hyde Park, South Africa. Produced by the Ichikowitz Family Foundation, the movie tells the untold story of the last days of apartheid and aims to spark debate around the country's history 20 years into our democracy. (Photo by Gallo Images / Sowetan / Bafana Mahlangu)

Former foreign minister Roelof “Pik” Botha’s son Roelof confirmed on Friday morning that his father passed away at the age of 86.

Botha served as the country’s foreign minister in the last years of the apartheid era. He was considered a liberal but the bulk of his career was spent defending South Africa’s apartheid system of racial segregation against foreign criticism.

He is not related to the late PW Botha, the contemporary National Party politician under whom he served as South Africa’s foreign minister.

He is survived by two sons, the rock musician Piet Botha and the economist, Roelof Botha, and two daughters, Anna Hertzog and artist Lien Botha.

Read original story on citizen.co.za

At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
October 12, 2018
Less than a minute

Support local journalism

Add The Citizen as a preferred source to see more from Network News in Google News and Top Stories.

Add as a preferred source on Google
Follow on Google News
Back to top button