Pik Botha

Roelof Frederik "Pik" Botha (born April 27, 1932, in Rustenburg, Transvaal, South Africa), is a South African politician who served as the country's foreign minister in the last years of the apartheid era. He was considered to be a liberal, at least in comparison to others in the ruling National Party and among the Afrikaner community.

Related Topics:
April 27 - 1932 - Rustenburg - Transvaal - South Africa - Foreign minister - Apartheid - Liberal - National Party - Afrikaner

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Botha began his career in the South African foreign service in 1953, serving in Sweden and West Germany. From 1963 to 1966, he served on the team representing South Africa at the International Court of Justice in The Hague in the matter of Ethiopia and Liberia v. South Africa, over the South African occupation of South-West Africa (Namibia).

Related Topics:
1953 - Sweden - West Germany - 1963 - 1966 - International Court of Justice - The Hague - Ethiopia - Liberia - South-West Africa - Namibia

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In 1966, Botha was appointed law adviser at the South African Department of Foreign Affairs. In that capacity, he served on the delegation representing South Africa at the United Nations from 1966 to 1974. At this time, he was appointed South Africa's ambassador to the United Nations, but a month after he presented his credentials, South Africa was suspended from membership.

Related Topics:
United Nations - 1974

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In 1970, Botha entered the realm of electoral politics, winning a seat in the South African parliament as a member of the National Party. In 1975, Botha was appointed South Africa's ambassador to the United States, in addition to his U.N. office. In 1977, he was appointed minister for foreign affairs.

Related Topics:
1970 - Parliament - National Party - 1975 - United States - 1977

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Botha entered the contest to be Prime Minister of South Africa in 1978. His candidacy acted as a spoiler, ensuring the victory of P. W. Botha (no relation).

Related Topics:
Prime Minister of South Africa - 1978 - Spoiler - P. W. Botha

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In 1985, Botha drafted a speech that would have announced the release of Nelson Mandela but this draft was rejected by P. W. Botha.

Related Topics:
1985 - Nelson Mandela

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The next year, he stated publicly that it would be possible for South Africa to be ruled by a black president provided that there were guarantees for minority rights. President P.W. Botha quickly forced foreign minister Botha to acknowledge that this position did not reflect government policy.

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In December 1988 Pik Botha flew to Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo with Magnus Malan, Defence Minister, and signed a peace protocol with Denis Sassou-Nguesso, President of the Republic of the Congo, and with Angolan and Cuban signatories. At the signing he said "A new era has begun in South Africa. My government is removing racial discrimination. We want to be accepted by our African brothers". Later on the 22 December, 1988 Pik Botha signed the tripartite agreement - Angola, Cuba and South Africa - at United Nations headquarters in New York which led to the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 435 and to South Africa's relinquishing control of Namibia. (Botha, with a delegation of 22 from Johannesburg, was booked to travel to the signing ceremony on flight Pan Am 103 from London to New York on 21 December, but instead took an earlier flight. UN Commissioner for Namibia, Bernt Carlsson, was killed when Pan Am 103 crashed at Lockerbie, Scotland.)

Related Topics:
1988 - Brazzaville - Republic of the Congo - Magnus Malan - Denis Sassou-Nguesso - 22 December - Tripartite agreement - United Nations - New York - Security Council Resolution 435 - Namibia - Pan Am 103 - 21 December - UN Commissioner for Namibia - Bernt Carlsson - Lockerbie - Scotland

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Botha served as Minister of Mineral and Energy Affairs in South Africa's first democratically elected government from 1994 to 1996 under the leadership of Nelson Mandela.

Related Topics:
1994 - 1996 - Nelson Mandela

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Botha served as deputy leader of the National Party in the Transvaal from 1987 to 1996. He retired from politics in 1996 when F. W. de Klerk withdrew the National Party from the government of national unity.

Related Topics:
1987 - F. W. de Klerk - National unity

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In 2000, Botha requested membership in the African National Congress and declared his support for the candidacy of Thabo Mbeki.

Related Topics:
2000 - African National Congress - Thabo Mbeki

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