KalahariLog

Yesterday was an important day in southern Africa: P. W. Botha, the main architect of apartheid finally died. Die Groot Krokodil (Afrikaans for The Big Crocodile) was prime minister for 6 years and president for another 6 of South Africa’s worst years in the 70’s and 80’s. He refused to participate in Desmond Tutu’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission and announced that “"I stand with all those who executed lawful government commands in our struggle against the revolutionary communist onslaught against our country ... I am not prepared to apologise for actions which I took to remove (sic) racial discrimination in this country [or] for lawful actions of my government in its struggle to curb the violent onslaught." There is a to-the-point obituary in the Guardian. The South African constitution guarantees a state funeral for its presidents, and the current president Mbeki ordered the flags at half-mast and was prepared to go ahead with the state event this weekend. Botha’s family turned down the offer. As one of my colleagues from South Africa said last night “may he burn in hell!”