[I mentioned a while back that PW Botha read Professor Van Zyl Slabberts’ new book, and he was furious about what Van Zyl Slabbert had written about him. I asked the Botha’s if they would care to prepare a rebuttal of this nonsense. It is due to my own laziness and disorganisation that I’m only getting round to post this now, so I apologise to everyone. I hope to publish more of Barbara Botha’s writings in the near future. We will yet set up a PW Botha page on AfricanCrisis.

It is extremely pathetic what some whites are up to these days in public. One wonders why Van Zyl Slabbert wrote what he did. I am similarly mystified by Vlok’s recent foot-washing antics. I can’t help but wonder what exactly is driving them…

Many blatant lies have been written about PW Botha. While searching the Internet, I was shocked to see how many overseas websites refered to PW Botha as “the Dictator of South Africa”. That is of course blatant nonsense. PW Botha was an elected leader of this country exactly in the same way that other white leaders came to power under Apartheid. He was subject to the same rules and regulations that all white leaders had been. But such are the typical lies and distortions made about him for the simple reason that he stood up to the ANC and refused to be bullied by the rest of the world into giving in to the ANC.

The rebuttals below pertain to Van Zyl Slabbert’s recently published book: Duskant die geskiedenis. Jan]

Written by Barbara Botha, wife of former State President, PW Botha, with his knowledge and consent.

Duskant die geskiedenis. Van Zyl Slabbert.
(Former leader of the Progressive Party in South Africa).

Refutations thereof. There are certain other irregularities. However, these are refutations where Slabbert makes specific reference to PW Botha.

On page 3 of Slabbert’s book, Slabbert refers to an occasion at the home of Jannie de Wet (an official who served in South West Africa on behalf of the South African government) in the previous SWA, where PW Botha was supposed to use the words f*** Americans. That is a blatant lie, as Botha has never used that word. Slabbert also mentions that Botha was under the influence of alcohol. What makes this book so weak and in such bad taste, is the fact that Slabbert many times draws his own conclusions. It is a fact that men are threatened by the strength of another of the calibre of PW Botha.

On page 46, Slabbert refers to the Cuban presence and successes in Angola according to him. Slabbert creates the idea that the Cubans had successes. They, in fact, had no success. The fact is that the South African Government and their defence force units, succeeded in repelling the Cubans. Consequently, after the government withdrew their forces from Angola as a result of the lack of promised American support, it was one of the agreements arrived at that the Cubans would return to Cuba.

On page 56, Slabbert refers to a discussion which he had with PW Botha, and which was taped by Botha without his knowledge. The fact is that Slabbert was asked whether he had any objection to the publication of the contents of the taped record. Slabbert’s reply was that he had no objection. Botha thereafter published the contents. Slabbert also refers to the fact that Botha stated that he had the support of the majority of blacks in South Africa. This is not so. Botha mentioned that he had the support of many black leaders in South Africa

On page 62, Slabbert refers to Botha’s second ‘stroke’ during 1989 and the fact that he gave orders from a hospital bed. That is not so. After the so-called stroke, Botha, from his official residence ‘Westbrooke’, ordered the leader of the National Party caucus (through the medium of a letter) to appoint a leader. Botha thereafter returned to his Wilderness holiday home. A well-known specialist from Pretoria examined Botha in the Wilderness over a period of a few days and found Botha to be in good shape.

On page 63, Slabbert states that during August 1989, Botha was persuaded to relinquish his position as State President. However, before this occurred and during a discussion in Parliament, Slabbert, in a speech, stated that Botha was probably one of the finest Prime Ministers South African ever produced. (See ‘Stem uit die Wildernis’ – a biography of PW Botha by Dr Daan Prinsloo).

Slabbert creates a negative impression of Botha’s public life on several pages of his book. However, even he, and his late acquaintance, H. Oppenheimer, expressed positive views of his contribution in public life. See Dr Daan Prinsloo’s book, ‘Stem uit die Wildernis’.

Slabbert refers to the Komati agreement and Samora Machel (the then President of Mocambique). Machel signed this agreement. This agreement created an excellent impression internationally. A man of the stature of Franz Josef Strauss of Bavaria, personally visited Mocambique and thereafter South Africa, to do follow-up work resulting from this agreement.

Wilderness, 23 August 2006.