biography
| name: |
Botha, P(ieter) W(illem)
|
pronunciation:
[bohta]
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1916– )
|
| biography:
| South African statesman, prime minister (1978–84), and first state president (1984–9), born in Paul Roux, Orange Free State, C South Africa. The longest-serving member of the South African Assembly (which he first entered in 1948), in his 14 years as minister of defence (1966–80) he presided over the controversial military intervention in Angola. He attempted to introduce constitutional reforms, but his plans led to wide international condemnation. In 1989 he suffered a stroke which compelled him to cede the state presidency to his party successor, F W de Klerk. In 1998 he was put on trial, and found guilty of contempt for refusing to appear before the country's Truth and Reconciliation Committee. |
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