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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Apartheid-era leader remembered | Apartheid-era leader remembered |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The funeral of PW Botha, the last South African leader to staunchly defend the apartheid system, is taking place with President Thabo Mbeki in attendance. | |
| Some South Africans view Mr Mbeki's attendance as a betrayal of those who suffered during apartheid. | Some South Africans view Mr Mbeki's attendance as a betrayal of those who suffered during apartheid. |
| The Botha family declined a state funeral and instead are holding it near the family home in the Western Cape. | The Botha family declined a state funeral and instead are holding it near the family home in the Western Cape. |
| Hundreds of mourners are at a Dutch Reformed Church in the coastal town of George, bedecked with white flowers. | Hundreds of mourners are at a Dutch Reformed Church in the coastal town of George, bedecked with white flowers. |
| FW De Klerk, Mr Botha's successor who oversaw apartheid's dismantling, is also at the funeral as is the former head of the armed forces during the apartheid era, General Constand Viljoen. | FW De Klerk, Mr Botha's successor who oversaw apartheid's dismantling, is also at the funeral as is the former head of the armed forces during the apartheid era, General Constand Viljoen. |
| There is a prominent photograph of the former president on display at the church. A private burial will follow the service. | There is a prominent photograph of the former president on display at the church. A private burial will follow the service. |
| Tribute | Tribute |
| Flags have been flown at half-mast from government buildings since he died at the age of 90 last Tuesday. | Flags have been flown at half-mast from government buildings since he died at the age of 90 last Tuesday. |
| PW BOTHA 1916: Born 12 January1948: Elected MP1966: Defence minister1978: PM of South Africa1984: Executive president1989: Resigns the presidency2006: Dies, aged 90 Botha era remembered | PW BOTHA 1916: Born 12 January1948: Elected MP1966: Defence minister1978: PM of South Africa1984: Executive president1989: Resigns the presidency2006: Dies, aged 90 Botha era remembered |
| President Mr Mbeki, who is attending the ceremony accompanied by his wife, Zanele, said on Tuesday that a balanced appraisal was needed of Mr Botha's life "to promote national reconciliation". | President Mr Mbeki, who is attending the ceremony accompanied by his wife, Zanele, said on Tuesday that a balanced appraisal was needed of Mr Botha's life "to promote national reconciliation". |
| He said it was under Mr Botha that contacts first began with the African National Congress (ANC) | He said it was under Mr Botha that contacts first began with the African National Congress (ANC) |
| The first post-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela is not attending, but has paid tribute to Mr Botha - describing him as "a symbol of apartheid" but recalling that he had taken steps towards an eventual peacefully negotiated settlement. | The first post-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela is not attending, but has paid tribute to Mr Botha - describing him as "a symbol of apartheid" but recalling that he had taken steps towards an eventual peacefully negotiated settlement. |
| Debate | Debate |
| Newspapers in South Africa had few kind words to say about Mr Botha calling him apartheid's last great champion. | Newspapers in South Africa had few kind words to say about Mr Botha calling him apartheid's last great champion. |
| And a heated debate took place on South African radio talk shows on whether Mr Mbeki should attend the funeral. | And a heated debate took place on South African radio talk shows on whether Mr Mbeki should attend the funeral. |
| Hundreds of ANC activists went missing or were killed whilst Mr Botha ruled South Africa between 1978 and 1989. | Hundreds of ANC activists went missing or were killed whilst Mr Botha ruled South Africa between 1978 and 1989. |
| Mr Mbeki's eldest son, Kwanda, is believed to have been killed by agents of the apartheid government under Mr Botha. | Mr Mbeki's eldest son, Kwanda, is believed to have been killed by agents of the apartheid government under Mr Botha. |
| After the end of apartheid, Mr Botha refused to testify before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which investigated apartheid crimes and offered amnesty to those who confessed and showed remorse. | After the end of apartheid, Mr Botha refused to testify before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which investigated apartheid crimes and offered amnesty to those who confessed and showed remorse. |
| This confirmed many people's view that he represented white South Africans who had failed to adapt to change and clung to old privileges and prejudices. | This confirmed many people's view that he represented white South Africans who had failed to adapt to change and clung to old privileges and prejudices. |