Pik Botha
South African politician (1932-2018) · South Africa · On the map · Politicians · Died at 86
Roelof Frederik "Pik" Botha, was a South African politician who served as the country's foreign minister in the last years of the apartheid era, the longest-serving in South African history.
Pik Botha is read about 115 times a day, in 25 languages.
A typical day, 30 days to 10 November 2026
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Known as a liberal within the party, Botha served to present a friendly, conciliatory face on the regime, while criticised internally. He was a leading contender for the leadership of the National Party upon John Vorster's resignation in 1978, but was ultimately not chosen. Staying in the government after the first non-racial general election in 1994, he served under Nelson Mandela as Minister of Mineral and Energy Affairs from 1994 to 1996.
