Pieter Willem Botha, DMS (locally / ˈ b ʊər t ə / BOOR-tə, [1] Afrikaans pronunciation: [ˈpitər ˈvələm ˈbuəta]; 12 January 1916 – 31 October 2006) was a South African politician.

Jan 8, 2025 · P.W. Botha, prime minister (1978–84) and first state president (1984–89) of South Africa. During his term in office, Botha sought (with limited success) to find some middle ground between those who fully supported apartheid and the …

Oct 31, 2006 · Botha was known by all as PW, and by some as Piet Wapen (Peter Weapon), the Axe Man or ‘Die Ou Krokodil'. He was feared for his abrasive personality, but his most vehement opponents respected his political nerve.

P. W. Botha was a South African politician who served as the prime minister of his country from 1978 to 1984 and as the first state president of his country from 1984 to 1989. He quit his studies midway to begin his career in politics, as a ‘National Party’ organizer.

After serving for six years as prime minister, P. W. Botha became the first executive state president of the Republic of South Africa in 1984. His administration was marked by tension and riots. He tried to improve conditions for nonwhite residents of South Africa, but he also used force to take down opposition.

Nov 1, 2006 · P. W. Botha, the South African leader who struggled vainly to preserve apartheid rule in a tide of domestic racial violence and global condemnation, died yesterday at his home in South Africa.

P. W. Botha. 50 languages. Afrikaans; ... Peter William Botha (12 January 1916 – 31 October 2006) [1] was a Dutch politician. Botha was the last Prime Minister of the country. In 1984 the office was abolished. After that he served as the first State President.

May 18, 2018 · Botha, P.W. (Pieter Willem) (1916– ) South African statesman. The longest-serving member of the apartheid regime, he entered parliament in 1948. As defence minister (1966–78), he increased South Africa's armed forces and was responsible for the military involvement in Angola.

P. W. Botha began his career working for the National Party. He also joined the Ossewabrandwag, a right-wing Afrikaner nationalist group who sympathized with the Nazis. After the Nazis attacked Russia, Pieter Willem Botha left the Ossewabrandwag condemning the attack. He pledged his allegiance to Christian nationalism instead, which also had a ...

Oct 31, 2006 · Botha was known by all as PW, and by some as Piet Wapen (Peter Weapon), the Axe Man or ‘Die Ou Krokodil’. He was feared for his abrasive personality, but his most vehement opponents respected his political nerve.