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{{Short description|Head of government of South Africa (1910–1984)}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2013}} {{Use South African English|date=April 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox Political post
{{Infobox official post
|post = Prime Minister |post = Prime Minister
|body = South Africa |body = South Africa
|insignia = Coat of Arms of South Africa (1932-2000).svg |insignia = Coat of Arms of South Africa (1932-2000).svg
|insigniasize = 100px |insigniasize = 100px
|insigniacaption = Arms of South Africa |insigniacaption = ]
|nativename = {{lang|af|Eerste Minister van Suid-Afrika}} |native_name = {{small|{{lang|af|Eerste Minister van Suid-Afrika}}}}
|image = Flag of South Africa 1928-1994.svg |image = PW Botha 1962.jpg
|imagecaption = '''Last in office'''<br>''']'''<br>9 October 1978 – 14 September 1984
|imagesize = 200px
|alt = |style = ] {{small|(until 1961)}}
|incumbent = ''Office Abolished''<br />Position succeeded by the<br />] ]
|incumbentsince =
|style = ] (1910–1961)
|residence = |residence =
|appointer = ] (1910–1961)<br />] (1961–1984) |appointer = ] {{small|(1910–1961)}}<br />] {{small|(1961–1984)}}
|termlength = Whilst commanding the confidence of the ] |termlength = Whilst commanding the confidence of the ]
|inaugural = ] |first = ]
|formation = 31 May 1910 |formation = 31 May 1910
|last = ] |last = ]
|abolished = 10 September 1984 |abolished = 14 September 1984
|succession = ] ]
|succession =
|deputy =
|salary =
|website =
}} }}


The '''Prime Minister of South Africa''' (]: ''Premier'' or ''Eerste Minister van Suid-Afrika'') was the ] in South Africa between 1910 and 1984. The '''prime minister of South Africa''' ({{langx|af|Eerste Minister van Suid-Afrika)}} was the ] in ] between 1910 and 1984.


==History of the office== ==History of the office==
], 1910.]]


], 1910.]]
The position of Prime Minister was established in 1910, when the ] was formed. He was appointed by the head of state--the ] until 1961 and the ] after South Africa became a republic in 1961). In practice, he was the leader of the majority party or coalition in the ]. The first Prime Minister was ], a former ] general and war hero during the ]. He was the country's leading political figure and ''de facto'' chief executive, with powers similar to those of his ].


The position of Prime Minister was established in 1910, when the ] was formed. He was appointed by the head of state—the ] until 1961 and the ] after South Africa became a republic in 1961. In practice, he was the leader of the majority party or coalition in the ]. With few exceptions, the governor-general/state president was bound by convention to act on the prime minister's advice. Thus, the prime minister was the country's leading political figure and '']'' chief executive, with powers similar to those of his ].
The position of Prime Minister was abolished in 1984, when the State President was given executive powers after a ] was adopted--effectively merging the powers of the Prime Minister with those of the State President. The last Prime Minister, ], become the first executive State President after the constitutional reform.


The first prime minister was ], a former ] general and war hero during the ].
In post-Apartheid South Africa, the ] has called for a return to a Westminster-style split executive with a Prime Minister as the actual head of government, as part of its overarching goal of avoiding a single party South African state.<ref></ref>

The position of Prime Minister was abolished in 1984, when the State President was given executive powers after a ] was adopted – effectively merging the role of Prime Minister and State President. The last Prime Minister of South Africa, ], became the first executive State President after the constitutional reform in 1984 after ]'s retirement.

In post-apartheid South Africa, the ] has called for a return to a Westminster-style split executive with a Prime Minister as head of government, which is part of its overarching goal of avoiding a ] South African state.<ref>, 12 October 2012</ref>

==List of prime ministers of South Africa==


==List of Prime Ministers of South Africa (1910–1984)==
;Parties ;Parties
{{legend2|{{South African Party/meta/color}}|]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}<br> {{legend2|{{party color|South African Party}}|]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}<br />
{{legend2|{{United Party (South Africa)/meta/color}}|]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}<br> {{legend2|{{party color|United Party (South Africa)}}|]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}<br />
{{legend2|{{National Party (South Africa)/meta/color}}|]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend2|{{party color|National Party (South Africa)}}|]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}


{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; text-align:center;" {| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| {{Abbr|No.|Number}}
! rowspan="2" width=100px| Portrait
! rowspan="2" width=25%| Name<br />{{small|(Birth–Death)}}<br />{{small|Constituency}}
! colspan="3"| Term of office
! rowspan="2"| Elected<br />{{small|(Parliament)}}
! rowspan="2"| Political party
! rowspan="2"| Government
|- |-
! #
! width=25%| Name<br /><small>(Birth–Death)
! width=100px| Picture
! Took office ! Took office
! Left office ! Left office
! Time in office
! Elected<br /><small>(Parliament)
! Political Party
|- style="background:#EEEEEE" |- style="background:#EEEEEE"
! style="background:{{South African Party/meta/color}}; color:white;" rowspan="2"|1 ! style="background:{{party color|South African Party}}; color:white;" rowspan="2"|1
|rowspan="2"|]<br /><small>(1862–1919) |rowspan="2"|]
|rowspan="2"|]<br />{{small|(1862–1919)}}<br />{{small|MP for ], ]<br>(until 1915)}}<br />{{small|MP for Losberg, Transvaal Province<br>(from 1915)}}
|rowspan="2"|]
|31 May 1910 |31 May 1910
|27 August 1919 |27 August 1919
|] ({{ordinal|1}})<br />] ({{ordinal|2}}) |{{Age in years and days|1910|5|31|1919|8|27}}
|] ({{ordinal|1}})<br />] ({{ordinal|2}})
|] |]
|]–]
|- |-
| colspan="4"|<small>First South African Prime Minister. ] of the ]. ]. ] of the ]. Crushed the ]. Ratified the ]. Died in office. | colspan="6"|{{small|First South African Prime Minister. ] of the ]. ]. ] of the ]. Crushed the ]. Ratified the ]. Died in office.}}
|- style="background:#EEEEEE" |- style="background:#EEEEEE"
! style="background:{{South African Party/meta/color}}; color:white;" rowspan="2"|2 ! style="background:{{party color|South African Party}}; color:white;" rowspan="2"|2
|rowspan="2"|]<br /><small>(1870–1950) |rowspan="2"|]
|rowspan="2"|] |rowspan="2"|]<br />{{small|(1870–1950)}}<br />{{small|MP for ], Transvaal Province}}
|3 September 1919 |3 September 1919
|30 June 1924 |30 June 1924
|{{Age in years and days|1919|9|3|1924|6|30}}
| — ({{ordinal|2}})<br />] ({{ordinal|3}})<br />] ({{ordinal|4}})
| — ({{ordinal|2}})<br />] ({{ordinal|3}})<br />] ({{ordinal|4}})
|] |]
|]–]
|- |-
| colspan="4"|<small>Attended ]. Attempted to broker an armistice and peace deal between the British and ] in the ]. Crushed the ], which caused a political backlash and he lost ] to National Party. Created coalition with National Party and returned as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice after the ]. | colspan="6"|{{small|Attended ]. Attempted to broker an armistice and peace deal between the British and ] in the ]. Crushed the ], which caused a political backlash and he lost ] to National Party. Created coalition with National Party and returned as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice after the ].}}
|- style="background:#EEEEEE" |- style="background:#EEEEEE"
! style="background:{{National Party (South Africa)/meta/color}};" height=60| ! style="background:{{party color|National Party (South Africa)}};" height=60|
| rowspan="4"|]<br /><small>(1866–1942) |rowspan="4"|]
|rowspan="4"|]<br />{{small|(1866–1942)}}<br />{{small|MP for ], ]}}
| rowspan="4"|]
| rowspan="2"|30 June 1924 |rowspan="2"|30 June 1924
| rowspan="2"|5 September 1939 |rowspan="2"|5 September 1939
| rowspan="2"|] ({{ordinal|5}})<br />] ({{ordinal|6}})<br />] ({{ordinal|7}})<br />] ({{ordinal|8}}) |rowspan="2"|{{Age in years and days|1924|6|30|1939|9|5}}
|rowspan="2"|] ({{ordinal|5}})<br />] ({{ordinal|6}})<br />] ({{ordinal|7}})<br />] ({{ordinal|8}})
| rowspan="2"|] <br><small>(until 1934)</small><br>] <br><small>(from 1934)</small> |rowspan="2"|] <br />{{small|(until 1934)}}<br />] <br />{{small|(from 1934)}}
|rowspan="2"|]–]–]–]
|- |-
! rowspan="2"|3 ! rowspan="2"|3
|- |-
| rowspan="2" colspan="4"|<small>Replaced ] as second official language by ] in 1925. Instated a new ] in 1928. Approved ] for white women in 1930. Adoption of ]. Removed Black voters from the common voters roll. Created coalition with South African Party to form the United Party. Resigned after the United Party caucus refused to accept his stance of neutrality in ]. | colspan="6" rowspan="2"|{{small|Replaced ] as second official language by ] in 1925. Instated a new ] in 1928. Approved ] for white women with the ]. Adoption of the ]. Removed Black voters from the common voters roll. Created coalition with South African Party to form the United Party. Resigned after the United Party caucus refused to accept his stance of neutrality in ].}}
|- |-
! style="background:{{United Party (South Africa)/meta/color}}; color:white;" height=60| ! style="background:{{party color|United Party (South Africa)}}; color:white;" height=60|
|- style="background:#EEEEEE" |- style="background:#EEEEEE"
! style="background:{{United Party (South Africa)/meta/color}}; color:white;" rowspan="2"|<small>(2) ! style="background:{{party color|United Party (South Africa)}}; color:white;" rowspan="2"|{{small|(2)}}
|rowspan="2"|]<br /><small>(1870–1950) |rowspan="2"|]
|rowspan="2"|] |rowspan="2"|]<br />{{small|(1870–1950)}}<br />{{small|MP for ], Transvaal Province}}
|5 September 1939 |5 September 1939
|4 June 1948 |4 June 1948
|{{Age in years and days|1939|9|5|1948|6|4}}
| — ({{ordinal|8}})<br />] ({{ordinal|9}})
| — ({{ordinal|8}})<br />] ({{ordinal|9}})
|] |]
|]
|- |-
| colspan="4"|<small>]. Ratified the ]. Issued the ], which stated that complete racial segregation in South Africa was not practical and that restrictions on African migration into urban areas should be abolished. Lost ] to National Party. | colspan="6"|{{small|]. Ratified the ]. Issued the ], which stated that complete racial segregation in South Africa was not practical and that restrictions on African migration into urban areas should be abolished. Lost the ] to National Party.}}
|- style="background:#EEEEEE" |- style="background:#EEEEEE"
! style="background:{{National Party (South Africa)/meta/color}};" rowspan="2"|4 ! style="background:{{party color|National Party (South Africa)}};" rowspan="2"|4
|rowspan="2"|]<br /><small>(1874–1959) |rowspan="2"|]
|rowspan="2"|]<br />{{small|(1874–1959)}}<br />{{small|MP for ], ]}}
|rowspan="2"|]
|4 June 1948 |4 June 1948
|30 November 1954 |30 November 1954
|] ({{ordinal|10}})<br />] ({{ordinal|11}}) |{{Age in years and days|1948|6|4|1954|11|30}}
|] ({{ordinal|10}})<br />] ({{ordinal|11}})
|] |]
|]–]
|- |-
| colspan="4"|<small>Came to power on the program of ] and began the comprehensive implementation of the ] policy. | colspan="6"|{{small|Came to power on the program of ] and began the comprehensive implementation of the ] policy.}}
|- style="background:#EEEEEE" |- style="background:#EEEEEE"
! style="background:{{National Party (South Africa)/meta/color}};" rowspan="2"|5 ! style="background:{{party color|National Party (South Africa)}};" rowspan="2"|5
|rowspan="2"|]<br /><small>(1893–1958) |rowspan="2"|]
|rowspan="2"|]<br />{{small|(1893–1958)}}<br />{{small|MP for ], Transvaal Province}}
|rowspan="2"|]
|30 November 1954 |30 November 1954
|24 August 1958 |24 August 1958
|{{Age in years and days|1954|11|30|1958|8|24}}
| — ({{ordinal|11}})<br />] ({{ordinal|12}})
| — ({{ordinal|11}})<br />] ({{ordinal|12}})
|] |]
|]
|- |-
| colspan="4"|<small>Tried to cut ties with United Kingdom. Removal of ] voters from the common voters roll. Extended 'treason trial' of 156 activists (including ]) involved in the ]. Severed diplomatic relations with the ]. Died in office. | colspan="6"|{{small|Tried to cut ties with United Kingdom. Removal of ] voters from the common voters roll. Extended 'treason trial' of 156 activists (including ]) involved in the ]. Severed diplomatic relations with the ]. Died in office.}}
|- style="background:#EEEEEE" |- style="background:#EEEEEE"
! style="background:{{National Party (South Africa)/meta/color}};" rowspan="2"|6 ! style="background:{{party color|National Party (South Africa)}};" rowspan="2"|6
|rowspan="2"|]<br /><small>(1901–1966) |rowspan="2"|]
|rowspan="2"|]<br />{{small|(1901–1966)}}<br />{{small|MP for ], Transvaal Province}}
|rowspan="2"|]
|2 September 1958 |2 September 1958
|6 September 1966 |6 September 1966
| — ({{ordinal|12}})<br />] ({{ordinal|13}})<br />] ({{ordinal|14}}) |{{Age in years and days|1958|9|2|1966|9|6}}
| — ({{ordinal|12}})<br />] ({{ordinal|13}})<br />] ({{ordinal|14}})
|] |]
|]–]
|- |-
| colspan="4"|<small>Start of the ]. The ] by ] ]. Proclaimed South Africa a Republic after ]. Abolished the separate Black voters roll. Launched the ] programme. Assassinated. | colspan="6"|{{small|Start of the ]. The ] by ] ]. Proclaimed South Africa a Republic outside the Commonwealth of Nations on 31 May 1961 after the ]. Abolished the separate Black voters roll. Launched the ] programme. Assassinated.}}
|- style="background:#EEEEEE" |- style="background:#EEEEEE"
! style="background:{{National Party (South Africa)/meta/color}};" rowspan="2"|7 ! style="background:{{party color|National Party (South Africa)}};" rowspan="2"|7
|rowspan="2"|]<br /><small>(1915–1983)
|rowspan="2"|] |rowspan="2"|]
|rowspan="2"|]<br />{{small|(1915–1983)}}<br />{{small|MP for ], Transvaal Province}}
|13 September 1966 |13 September 1966
|2 October 1978 |2 October 1978
|{{Age in years and days|1966|9|13|1978|10|2}}
| — ({{ordinal|14}})<br />] ({{ordinal|15}})<br />] ({{ordinal|16}})<br />] ({{ordinal|17}})
| — ({{ordinal|14}})<br />] ({{ordinal|15}})<br />] ({{ordinal|16}})<br />] ({{ordinal|17}})
|] |]
|]–]–]
|- |-
| colspan="4"|<small>Abolished the Coloured voters roll. ] escalated into a full-scale conflict. He managed policy of détente with African countries, and accepted to let black African diplomats living in white areas. He alienated an extremist faction of his National Party when it accepted the presence of ] players and spectators during the tour of New Zealand ] in South Africa in 1970. He unofficially supported, but refused to recognise officially, the neighbouring state of ], which was ruled by a ] government that had declared ] from United Kingdom. In 1974, under pressure from US Secretary of State ] he pressured ], the ], to accept in principle that ] could not continue indefinitely. Resigned. | colspan="6"|{{small|Abolished the Coloured voters roll. ] escalated into a full-scale conflict. He managed policy of détente with African countries, and accepted to let black African diplomats living in white areas. He alienated an extremist faction of his National Party when it accepted the presence of ] players and spectators during the ]. He unofficially supported, but refused to recognize officially, the neighbouring state of ], which was ruled by a ] government that had ] from United Kingdom. In 1974, under pressure from US Secretary of State ] he pressured ], the ], to accept in principle that ] could not continue indefinitely. Resigned.}}
|- style="background:#EEEEEE" |- style="background:#EEEEEE"
! style="background:{{National Party (South Africa)/meta/color}};" rowspan="2"|8 ! style="background:{{party color|National Party (South Africa)}};" rowspan="2"|8
|rowspan="2"|]<br /><small>(1916–2006)
|rowspan="2"|] |rowspan="2"|]
|rowspan="2"|]<br />{{small|(1916–2006)}}<br />{{small|MP for ], Cape Province}}
|9 October 1978 |9 October 1978
|3 September 1984 |14 September 1984
|{{Age in years and days|1978|10|9|1984|9|14}}
| — ({{ordinal|17}})<br />] (])<br />] ({{ordinal|19}})
| — ({{ordinal|17}})<br />] (])<br />] ({{ordinal|19}})
|] |]
|]
|- |-
| colspan="4"|<small>Remained ] until 1980. Improved relations with the West. Authorized ] in 1983, including the creation of the ], which give a limited political voice to the country's ] and ] population groups. The majority Black population group was still excluded. Began a ] in collaboration with ], which culminated in the production of six nuclear bombs. Creation of police counter-insurgency unit, ]. Resignation of Vorster as State-President in the wake of the ]. Abolished the position of Prime Minister in 1984 and became Executive State President. | colspan="6"|{{small|Remained ] until 1980. Improved relations with the West. Authorized ] in 1983, including the creation of the ], which give a limited political voice to the country's ] and ] population groups. The majority Black population group was still excluded. Began a ] in collaboration with ], which culminated in the production of six nuclear bombs. Creation of police counter-insurgency unit, ]. Resignation of Vorster as State President in the wake of the ]. Abolished the position of Prime Minister in 1984 and became executive State President.}}
|} |}


==References== ==Timeline==
{{#tag:timeline|
<references />
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bar:Strijdom
from: 30/11/1954 till: 24/08/1958 color:np text:"]"
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bar:Vorster
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bar:PWBotha
from: 09/10/1978 till: 14/09/1984 color:np text:"]"

}}


==See also== ==See also==

* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]

==References==
{{reflist}}


==External links== ==External links==
{{Commons category|Prime ministers of South Africa}} {{Commons category}}


{{SAPremiers}} {{SAPremiers}}
{{Heads of government of African states}} {{Heads of government of African states}}
{{Prime Minister}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Prime Minister Of South Africa}} ]
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Latest revision as of 09:54, 8 November 2024

Head of government of South Africa (1910–1984)

Prime Minister of South Africa
Eerste Minister van Suid-Afrika
Coat of Arms of South Africa
Last in office
Pieter Willem Botha
9 October 1978 – 14 September 1984
StyleThe Right Honourable (until 1961)
AppointerGovernor-General of South Africa (1910–1961)
State President of South Africa (1961–1984)
Term lengthWhilst commanding the confidence of the House of Assembly
Formation31 May 1910
First holderLouis Botha
Final holderPieter Willem Botha
Abolished14 September 1984
SuccessionExecutive State President of South Africa

The prime minister of South Africa (Afrikaans: Eerste Minister van Suid-Afrika) was the head of government in South Africa between 1910 and 1984.

History of the office

The first Prime Minister of South Africa, Louis Botha (sitting at the centre of the desk), with his First Cabinet, 1910.

The position of Prime Minister was established in 1910, when the Union of South Africa was formed. He was appointed by the head of state—the governor-general until 1961 and the state president after South Africa became a republic in 1961. In practice, he was the leader of the majority party or coalition in the House of Assembly. With few exceptions, the governor-general/state president was bound by convention to act on the prime minister's advice. Thus, the prime minister was the country's leading political figure and de facto chief executive, with powers similar to those of his British counterpart.

The first prime minister was Louis Botha, a former Boer general and war hero during the Second Boer War.

The position of Prime Minister was abolished in 1984, when the State President was given executive powers after a new constitution was adopted – effectively merging the role of Prime Minister and State President. The last Prime Minister of South Africa, P. W. Botha, became the first executive State President after the constitutional reform in 1984 after Marais Viljoen's retirement.

In post-apartheid South Africa, the Inkatha Freedom Party has called for a return to a Westminster-style split executive with a Prime Minister as head of government, which is part of its overarching goal of avoiding a single-party South African state.

List of prime ministers of South Africa

Parties

  South African Party
  United Party
  National Party

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Constituency 		Term of office Elected
(Parliament) 		Political party Government
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Louis Botha
(1862–1919)
MP for Standerton, Transvaal Province
(until 1915)
MP for Losberg, Transvaal Province
(from 1915) 		31 May 1910 27 August 1919 9 years, 88 days 1910 (1st)
1915 (2nd) 		South African Party L. Botha I–II
First South African Prime Minister. Formation of the Union of South Africa. World War I. Conquest of the German South West Africa. Crushed the Maritz rebellion. Ratified the Treaty of Versailles. Died in office.
2 Jan Christiaan Smuts
(1870–1950)
MP for Wonderboom, Transvaal Province 		3 September 1919 30 June 1924 4 years, 301 days — (2nd)
1920 (3rd)
1921 (4th) 		South African Party Smuts I–II
Attended 1921 Imperial Conference. Attempted to broker an armistice and peace deal between the British and Irish nationalists in the Irish War of Independence. Crushed the Rand Rebellion, which caused a political backlash and he lost 1924 general election to National Party. Created coalition with National Party and returned as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice after the 1933 general election.
James Barry Munnik Hertzog
(1866–1942)
MP for Smithfield, Orange Free State Province 		30 June 1924 5 September 1939 15 years, 67 days 1924 (5th)
1929 (6th)
1933 (7th)
1938 (8th) 		National Party
(until 1934)
United Party
(from 1934) 		Hertzog I–II–III–IV
3
Replaced Dutch as second official language by Afrikaans in 1925. Instated a new national flag in 1928. Approved women's suffrage for white women with the Women's Enfranchisement Act, 1930. Adoption of the Statute of Westminster 1931. Removed Black voters from the common voters roll. Created coalition with South African Party to form the United Party. Resigned after the United Party caucus refused to accept his stance of neutrality in World War II.
(2) Jan Christiaan Smuts
(1870–1950)
MP for Standerton, Transvaal Province 		5 September 1939 4 June 1948 8 years, 273 days — (8th)
1943 (9th) 		United Party Smuts III
World War II. Ratified the UN Charter. Issued the Fagan Report, which stated that complete racial segregation in South Africa was not practical and that restrictions on African migration into urban areas should be abolished. Lost the 1948 general election to National Party.
4 Daniël François Malan
(1874–1959)
MP for Piketberg, Cape Province 		4 June 1948 30 November 1954 6 years, 179 days 1948 (10th)
1953 (11th) 		National Party Malan I–II
Came to power on the program of apartheid and began the comprehensive implementation of the segregationist policy.
5 Johannes Gerhardus Strijdom
(1893–1958)
MP for Waterberg, Transvaal Province 		30 November 1954 24 August 1958 3 years, 267 days — (11th)
1958 (12th) 		National Party Strydom
Tried to cut ties with United Kingdom. Removal of Coloured voters from the common voters roll. Extended 'treason trial' of 156 activists (including Nelson Mandela) involved in the Freedom Charter. Severed diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union. Died in office.
6 Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd
(1901–1966)
MP for Heidelberg, Transvaal Province 		2 September 1958 6 September 1966 8 years, 4 days — (12th)
1961 (13th)
1966 (14th) 		National Party Verwoerd I–II
Start of the South African Border War. The Wind of Change speech by British PM Harold Macmillan. Proclaimed South Africa a Republic outside the Commonwealth of Nations on 31 May 1961 after the 1960 referendum. Abolished the separate Black voters roll. Launched the bantustan programme. Assassinated.
7 Balthazar Johannes Vorster
(1915–1983)
MP for Nigel, Transvaal Province 		13 September 1966 2 October 1978 12 years, 19 days — (14th)
1970 (15th)
1974 (16th)
1977 (17th) 		National Party Vorster I–II–III
Abolished the Coloured voters roll. South African Border War escalated into a full-scale conflict. He managed policy of détente with African countries, and accepted to let black African diplomats living in white areas. He alienated an extremist faction of his National Party when it accepted the presence of Māori players and spectators during the 1970 New Zealand rugby union tour of South Africa. He unofficially supported, but refused to recognize officially, the neighbouring state of Rhodesia, which was ruled by a white minority government that had unilaterally declared independence from United Kingdom. In 1974, under pressure from US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger he pressured Ian Smith, the Prime Minister of Rhodesia, to accept in principle that white minority rule could not continue indefinitely. Resigned.
8 Pieter Willem Botha
(1916–2006)
MP for George, Cape Province 		9 October 1978 14 September 1984 5 years, 341 days — (17th)
1981 (18th)
1984 (19th) 		National Party P. W. Botha
Remained Minister of Defence until 1980. Improved relations with the West. Authorized radical constitutional reform in 1983, including the creation of the Tricameral Parliament, which give a limited political voice to the country's Coloured and Indian population groups. The majority Black population group was still excluded. Began a secret nuclear weapons program in collaboration with Israel, which culminated in the production of six nuclear bombs. Creation of police counter-insurgency unit, Koevoet. Resignation of Vorster as State President in the wake of the Muldergate Scandal. Abolished the position of Prime Minister in 1984 and became executive State President.

Timeline

P. W. BothaJohn VorsterHendrik VerwoerdJ. G. StrijdomD. F. MalanJ. B. M. HertzogJan SmutsLouis Botha

See also

References

  1. IFP: Statement by Mangosuthu Buthelezi, Inkatha Freedom Party Leader, welcomes Constitutional Court judgment on regulation of introduction of bills, 12 October 2012

External links

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