Who became president of South Africa in 1989?

In 1989, the presidency of South Africa was held by P.W. Botha.

Pieter Willem Botha, commonly known as P.W. Botha, was born on January 12, 1916, in the Orange Free State, South Africa. He joined the National Party in 1934 and quickly rose through the ranks of the party. Botha served as the Minister of Defence and later became the Prime Minister of South Africa in 1978.

Botha was known for his strong leadership and firm stance on apartheid, a system of racial segregation enforced by the South African government at the time. However, during his presidency, pressure to end apartheid was mounting both internationally and domestically.

In 1989, Botha suffered a stroke, leading to his resignation as the President of South Africa. He was succeeded by F.W. de Klerk, who became the seventh and final State President of South Africa under apartheid.

Frederik Willem de Klerk, commonly known as F.W. de Klerk, was born on March 18, 1936, in Johannesburg, South Africa. He joined the National Party in 1959 and steadily climbed the political ladder. Prior to becoming the president, de Klerk held various ministerial positions, including the Minister of Education and the Minister of Mineral and Energy Affairs.

De Klerk is well-known for his role in dismantling apartheid and negotiating the peaceful transition to democracy in South Africa. During his presidency, de Klerk legalized political opposition parties, released political prisoners, and initiated negotiations with prominent anti-apartheid leaders, such as Nelson Mandela.

The presidency of F.W. de Klerk marked a significant turning point in South African history. Under his leadership, apartheid was finally abolished, and the country moved towards a non-racial democracy. De Klerk and Nelson Mandela were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for their efforts in bringing about this peaceful transition.

Therefore, in 1989, P.W. Botha was the president of South Africa, but he was succeeded by F.W. de Klerk, who played a pivotal role in ending apartheid and paving the way for a new era in South African politics.

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