P. W. Botha: Trending quotes

“Unfortunately [South Africa] has been badly repaid for her loyalty because the West has expelled her from the family circle while befriending the most dictatorial regimes on Earth.”

P. W. Botha

As state president in an interview with Figaro, Paris, 8 December 1986, as cited in The Star, and Pieter-Dirk Uys, 1987, PW Botha in his own words, p. 41

Family , Loyalty

“We do not know what tomorrow will bring. We are not prophets. This is a step in the dark. We can only proceed into the future with faith.”

P. W. Botha

As prime minister, introducing the 4th Amendment to the Constitution Bill, 23 May 1980, which envisaged a tricameral corporate federation. Cited in The Star, and Pieter-Dirk Uys, 1987, PW Botha in his own words, p. 27

Faith , Future

“There is only one element that can break the Afrikaner … and that is the Afrikaner himself.”

P. W. Botha

Speaking to the House of Assembly on 26 April 1984. Excerpt from a quote by Andrew Donaldson, Sunday Times, 5 November 2006

“We do not want chaos in South Africa.”

P. W. Botha

Explaining why cinemas were not open to all races, House of Assembly, April 21, 1983, as cited by Andrew Donaldson, Sunday Times, 5 November 2006

“We do not force people to move to new homes, we coerce them. [Some believe he meant to say "convince"]”

P. W. Botha

Press conference in Switzerland on 2 June 1984, as cited by Andrew Donaldson, Sunday Times, 5 November 2006

People , Home

“The idea of an Afrikaner people as a cultural entity and religious group with a special language will be retained in South Africa as long as civilisation stands.”

P. W. Botha

As cited in Dictionary of South African Quotations, Jennifer Crwys-Williams, Penguin Books 1994, p. 11

People , Idea

“Mandela has overstepped the mark. He has broken the law. The judiciary of this country has put him where he belongs according to the rules of democracy.”

P. W. Botha

As Prime Minister at a National Party meeting in Stellenbosch, 10 April 1980, as cited in PW Botha in his own words, Pieter-Dirk Uys, 1987, p. 85

Law , Democracy , Country

“I believe we are today crossing the Rubicon, Mr Chairman. In South Africa there can be no turning back. I have a manifesto for the future of our country and we must engage in positive action in the months and years that lie ahead.”

P. W. Botha

From his National Party Congress Speech in Durban on 15 August 1985

Lie , Future , Country

“I never have the nagging doubt of wondering whether perhaps I am wrong.”

P. W. Botha

As quoted in Dictionary of South African Quotations, Jennifer Crwys-Williams, Penguin Books 1994, p. 285

“South Africa is not a jellyfish and is in many respects a swordfish.”

P. W. Botha

Speaking to the House of Assembly on 28 April 1986, as cited by Andrew Donaldson, Sunday Times, 5 November 2006

“We dare not see ourselves as a chosen people. We are called people - called to a particular task, just as every nation is a called people.”

P. W. Botha

As prime minister, on a Day of the Covenant rally in Hartenbosch, 16 December 1983, as cited in PW Botha in his own words, Pieter-Dirk Uys, 1987, p. 29

People

“I am tired of constantly hearing how guilty the Afrikaner and the National Party are and the time has come that this myth be crushed.”

P. W. Botha

As state president, at the annual conference of the Afrikaner Studentebond, Stellenbosch, 15 April 1985, as cited in PW Botha in his own words, Pieter-Dirk Uys, 1987, p. 32

Time

“Our history is responsible for the differences in the South African way of life.”

P. W. Botha

As cited in Dictionary of South African Quotations, Jennifer Crwys-Williams, Penguin Books 1994, p. 183

Life , Way , History

“We are a strong country in a rather sick world. … Our problems are not so much racial as radicals wish to make them.”

P. W. Botha

As Prime Minister in a Business Week interview, USA, 4 April 1982, as cited in the Sunday Express, and Pieter-Dirk Uys, 1987, PW Botha in his own words, p. 15, 41

World , Problem , Strong , Country

“The white people who came here lived at a very much higher standard than the indigenous peoples, and with a very rich tradition which they brought with them from Europe.”

P. W. Botha

As cited in Dictionary of South African Quotations, Jennifer Crwys-Williams, Penguin Books 1994, p. 441

People

“I want to warn young people who lend their ears to radicals and who play around with the music from Lusaka - they will end up inside the bear's fur coat, but they will no longer be able to live.”

P. W. Botha

At an election meeting in Pietermaritzburg on 30 April 1987, as cited by Andrew Donaldson, Sunday Times, 5 November 2006

People , Music

“The Cubans are not in Africa out of love.”

P. W. Botha

As Minister of Defence, 22 January 1978, Beeld

Love

“You could not claim for yourself that which you were not prepared to grant others.”

P. W. Botha

As quoted in A Treasury of Quotations, Lennox-Short and Lee, Donker, 1991, p. 203

“The security and happiness of all minority groups in South Africa depend on the Afrikaner. Whether they are English- or German- or Portuguese- or Italian-speaking, or even Jewish-speaking, makes no difference.”

P. W. Botha

Speaking to the House of Assembly on February 20, 1981, as cited by Andrew Donaldson, Sunday Times, 5 November 2006

Dependency , Happiness

“No more mine-laying. No more murder. No more abduction of women and children. No more attacks on headmen. No more raids across the border. So long as these conditions do not exist there will be no withdrawal [from South-West Africa] of South African troops.”

P. W. Botha

As Prime Minister to the House of Assembly, 8 March 1979, as cited in PW Botha in his own words, Pieter-Dirk Uys, 1987, p. 65

Women , Children