former Prime Minister and State President PW Botha
7 November 2006
President Thabo Mbeki will on Wednesday, 8 November 2006, attend the funeral
of the late Prime Minister and State President of South Africa, Mr PW Botha,
who passed away last week.
Mr PW Botha led South Africa during a period of sustained repression against
the majority of the population. However, it is also in this period that contact
between the apartheid government and the African National Congress (ANC) was
initiated, ultimately leading (after Mr Botha's retirement) to the unbanning of
democratic organisations and the negotiations process which brought about the
historic transition in 1994.
Speaking to the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) in Beijing,
China, yesterday, President Mbeki underlined the need for a "balanced"
appraisal of former President Botha's life, the better to promote
nation-building and national reconciliation.
The funeral service will take place at the Old Dutch Reformed Church in
George, at 14h00.
Enquiries:
Mukoni Ratshitanga
Cell: 082 300 3447
Issued by: The Presidency
7 November 2006
