South African politician. After a career in the diplomatic service (195370), he entered politics and was elected to parliament. He became South Africa's permanent representative at the UN, then ambassador to the USA. He returned to domestic politics in 1977, becoming foreign minister in the government of P W Botha and that of F W de Klerk. In 19946 he served as minister for minerals and energy in Nelson Mandela's first cabinet.
Diplomat and Lawyer
Botha began his career in the South African foreign service in 1953, serving in Sweden and West Germany. South Africa, over the South African occupation of South-West Africa (Namibia).
In 1966, Botha was appointed law adviser at the South African Department of Foreign Affairs. 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.
Politician
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.
Botha entered the contest to be Prime Minister of South Africa in 1978.
In 1985, Botha drafted a speech that would have announced the release of Nelson Mandela but this draft was rejected by P.
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.
In December 1988 Pik Botha flew to Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, with Defence Minister Magnus Malan, and signed a peace protocol with Denis Sassou-Nguesso, President of the Republic of the Congo, and with Angolan and Cuban signatories.
Namibian Independence
On December 22, 1988 Pik Botha signed a tripartite agreement involving Angola, Cuba and South Africa at United Nations headquarters in New York City which led to the implementation of Security Council Resolution 435, and to South Africa's relinquishing control of Namibia after decades of defiance.
Pan Am Flight 103
On December 21, 1988 Pik Botha, with a 22-strong South African delegation from Johannesburg, was booked to travel to the Namibian Independence ratification ceremony on Pan Am Flight 103 from London to New York.
National unity
Botha subsequently served as Minister of Mineral and Energy Affairs in South Africa's first post-apartheid government from 1994 to 1996 under President Nelson Mandela.
Botha became deputy leader of the National Party in the Transvaal from 1987 to 1996.
In 2000, Botha requested membership of the African National Congress and declared his support for President Thabo Mbeki.
User Comments Add a comment…