19 Facts About Pik Botha

Pik Botha was a leading contender for the leadership of the National Party upon John Vorster's resignation in 1978, but was ultimately not chosen.

Pik Botha was born at Rustenburg in the Transvaal, to Roelof Frederik Pik Botha and Maria Elizabeth Dreyer.

Pik Botha attended Paul Kruger Primary School, where his father was principal.

Pik Botha excelled in high school, becoming chairman of the debating society and officer in the school cadets.

Pik Botha was a writer of both prose and poetry in Afrikaans, and his writing supplemented his salary in his early years as a diplomat.

Pik Botha began his career in the South African foreign service in 1953, serving in Sweden and West Germany.

In 1966, Pik Botha was appointed legal adviser at the Department of Foreign Affairs, in which capacity he served on the delegation representing South Africa at the United Nations from 1967 to 1977.

Pik Botha continued to represent Westdene for the remainder of his political career.

Pik Botha entered the contest to be the leader of the National Party in 1978.

Pik Botha recalled in 2011 that he had been "severely reprimanded and almost fired" over his remarks.

On 22 December 1988, Pik Botha signed the Tripartite Accord 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 granting of independence to Namibia.

Pik 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.

Pik Botha had first met Mandela in May 1990 at the historic Groote Schuur Minute, and was highly impressed by Mandela's knowledge of Afrikaner history.

Pik Botha became deputy leader of the National Party in the Transvaal from 1987 to 1996.

In 2000, Pik Botha declared his support for President Thabo Mbeki.

In 2013, Pik Botha expressed criticism for the government's affirmative action policies saying that the South African government of 1994 would never have reached a constitutional settlement with the ANC had it insisted on its current affirmative action programme.

On 12 December 2013, Pik Botha appeared on the BBC's Question Time, hosted in Johannesburg, discussing the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela.

Two years later, Pik Botha married Ina Joubert, a former journalist with the SABC.

Pik Botha died of natural causes at his home in Pretoria on 12 October 2018 at the age of 86.