JOHANNESBURG — Roelof “Pik” Botha, the last foreign minister of South Africa’s apartheid era and a contradictory figure who staunchly defended white minority rule but recognized that change was inevitable, died on Friday at age 86. Botha died in “the early hours of the morning” at his home after an illness, his son, also named Roelof, told South Africa’s eNCA news outlet. Often willing to passionately debate critics, the longtime foreign minister was vilified around the world while drawing the ire of his own boss, President P.W. It said Botha’s 17-year stint as foreign minister was “a world record in the diplomatic community.”Apartheid’s last president, F.W. Botha, also a former South African ambassador to the United States, was foreign minister from 1977 until the end of apartheid in 1994.

Source: National Post October 12, 2018 16:07 UTC