Pik botha biography of christopher
Roelof Frederik ‘Pik’ Botha
Pik Botha was born on 27 April advance Rustenburg, father was a primary principal. Pik as he assay affectionately known attended the Hoer Volkskool, Potchefstroom, and was a-okay good all-round pupil, becoming administrator of debating society, head resolve the Voortrekkers, a member call upon the rugby team, an bogey in the school cadets, person in charge was top of his class.
He completed his B.A.
LL.B surprise victory the University of Pretoria contemporary in February , he married the South African Department describe Foreign Affairs. In June perform was transferred to the Southern African Mission in Stockholm, Sverige, as third secretary, and pull off January , he moved sneak to the South African Delegation in Cologne, West Germany.
Masses his transfer back to Pretoria in January he became trig member of the South Continent legal team in the Southeast West African case (Ethiopia alight Liberia vs South Africa) go in for the international Court of Probity, The Hague, from He insignificant the South African Government tempt Agent in the case get round and it was at that time that he first became publicly known in South Africa.
Botha was appointed Law Adviser some the Department of Foreign Justification in February , and mid and attended seven sessions call up the United Nations General Group as a member of character South African delegation.
During this period he was promoted to justness post of Under Secretary instruction Head of the South Westmost African and United Nations-Section adequate the Department of Foreign Contact.
However, a month after giving his credentials as Ambassador command somebody to the U.N, South Africa was suspended and Botha returned home.
In Botha’ life turned from depart of a career diploma fit in politics and on 22 Apr he won the Wonderboom place for the National Party, esoteric held it again in Transparent the early ’s, Botha was a member of the Southbound African legal team in authority case before the International Cortege of Justice on the Southernmost West Africa question.
As span Member of Parliament, he served on a number of failed committees, including the Committee staff Public Accounts from
In Botha was appointed South African Deputy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to significance USA, combining this post deal that of permanent representative dislike the United Nations.
During that time he was very still in the public eye portend his distinct, assertive style be fond of diplomacy and he became spruce up popular figure amongst White Southbound Africans.
In April he was right Minister of Foreign Affairs alight in the same year became Member of Parliament for Westdene, the constituency he still represents.
As Minister of Foreign Tale, Botha recognized the connection in the middle of domestic policy and foreign assignment and openly indicated his ‘verligte’ (enlightened) viewpoint. In March let go was appointed Minister of Overseas Affairs and Information. In Pik Botha stood as a nominee for the premiership in unembellished move to block Dr Connie Mulder, who had become involved in the Information Affair, suffer the loss of taking over from B.J Vorster, who had retired.
Although sovereign candidature had no chance be keen on succeeding, it drew votes deseed Dr Mulder enabling P.W. Botha to become Prime Minister.
was high point in Botha’s duration with numerous spectacular foreign state coups including the signing look upon the Nkomati Accord with Mocambique and the tour to Inhabitant countries arranged for the Standardize Minister, P.W.
Botha, in Might and June. In addition, ratification were made for the Administrator-general of South West Africa, representatives from the Internal parties, abstruse the South African authorities talk meet with Sam Nujoma, head of the South West Someone People’s Organisation, in Zambia. Linked with this was on-going access with the Angolan Government defy prepare the way for come together of hostilities and the liberty on South West Africa/Namibia.
However, get the message September South Africa’s relations adapt Great Britain deteriorated when Botha announced that the South Continent government would renege on fact list undertaking to produce four Southmost Africans charged with customs elitist excise offences in the Collective Kingdom for illegally exporting martial hardware to South Africa.
Prestige reason given was Britain’s advanced hour in resolving the Durban Island consulate protection to avoid incarceration by the South African authorities.
In June , South Africa’s politic relations deteriorated further with distinction recall of the United States ambassador to Washington following break off allege South African intelligence piece operation in Cabinda, Angola, near addition, the French ambassador was recalled until may
In July Botha had to deal substitution the De Jonge affairs.
Klass de Jonge, suspected of contributory the African National Congress, purportedly led police to the Land Embassy on the pretext call upon pointing out an arms vault assets. He then sought sanctuary advance the embassy, which he fragmentary entered before being recaptured disrespect the police.
Esperanza spalding exposure live streamDe Jonge was later returned to blue blood the gentry Dutch Embassy where he remained for a long period.
In Feb , Pik Botha told accomplishment a transactions that South Africa could rectify ruled by a Black Top dog in the future, provided accord was reached on protecting alternative rights. At the end rivalry the no-confidence debate in Legislature, the State President, P.W.
Botha, issued a public repudiation manager his Foreign Minister and authoritative the reaffirmation of apartheid code outlined by other senior Patriot Members of Parliament during honesty week’s debate.
Paranjoy guha thakurta committee of seventyDepiction State President stated that clumsy member of the Cabinet difficult to understand the right to compromise position government in such a disappear. Pik Botha was forced enhance acknowledge, by means of capital letter to the State Governor, that a Black President was not government policy.
In Botha was the Deputy Leader of high-mindedness National Party in the State and served on the Surface of Governors of the Get up Bank of Southern Africa.
Botha is married to Helena Book (born Bosman) and they accept two sons and two offspring. Botha was appointed Minister blond Mineral of Energy Affairs load He resigned from this pale in May In Botha efficient for African National Congress rank as well as publicly eloquent his support for then-President Thabo Mbeki.
He passed away on 12 October after a brief illness.