Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

P. W. Botha

Role / Field:

Key South African politician and leader during the height of the apartheid era.

Born:

1916-01-12

Died:

2006-10-31

Century / Era:

1916s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Pieter Willem Botha, (locally BOOR-tə, Afrikaans pronunciation: [ˈpitər ˈvələm ˈbuəta]; 12 January 1916 – 31 October 2006) was a South African politician who served as the last Prime Minister of South Africa from 1978 to 1984 and as the first executive State President of South Africa from 1984 until his resignation in 1989. Nicknamed 'Die Groot Krokodil' (Afrikaans for 'The Big Crocodile') due to his tough political stance, he was considered the final hardline leader of South Africa during the apartheid era. Born on a small farm in the Orange Free State in 1916, Botha was raised in a conservative Afrikaner family with strong nationalist beliefs. Botha studied law at Grey University College but left before completing his degree to pursue a career in politics.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He became involved in the National Party's youth wing and worked as a political organizer, laying the foundation for his rise within the party. In 1939 he joined the Ossewabrandwag, an organization which was sympathetic to the German Nazi Party, but in 1941 he began to identify as a Christian nationalist and was expelled from the organization. In the 1948 general election, he was elected to the House of Assembly as the MP from...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Adriana Caselotti — Contemporary (Born in 1916) (1916): American actress and singer, famed for voicing Snow White in the first Disney feature.
• Alexander Prokhorov — Contemporary (Born in 1916) (1916): Soviet physicist known for fundamental work on optics, leading to the laser and maser.
• Arno Peters — Contemporary (Born in 1916) (1916): German historian known for developing the Peters world map projection.
• Aaron Spelling — Contemporary (Died in 2006) (2006): Pioneering American producer of hit TV series like Dynasty and Beverly Hills, 90210.
• Abu Musab al-Zarqawi — Contemporary (Died in 2006) (2006): Jordanian jihadist militant known for orchestrating violence in Iraq (1966–2006)
• Alexander Litvinenko — Contemporary (Died in 2006) (2006): Russian defector and critic of the Kremlin, known for exposing state corruption.
• Abd el-Krim — Shared historical date (01-12 · Born) (1882): Moroccan revolutionary leader who spearheaded the revolt against French and Spanish Protectorates.
• Agatha Christie — Shared historical date (01-12 · Died) (1976): The 'Queen of Crime,' a master of the mystery genre, best-selling author of all time.
• Adolf von Baeyer — Shared historical date (10-31 · Born) (1835): Pioneering German chemist known for indigo synthesis and IUPAC nomenclature.
• Alexander Alekhine — Shared historical date (10-31 · Born) (1892): A celebrated Russian-French chess master and four-time World Champion.
• 1916 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1916
• January 12 (01-12) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on January 12
• 2006 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2006
• October 31 (10-31) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on October 31

Frequently Asked Questions about P. W. Botha