Título: P. W. Botha
Seção: Apartheid government
Background: Pieter Willem Botha, DMS (Afrikaans pronunciation: ['pit@r 'v@l@m 'bU@ta]; 12 January 1916 - 31 October 2006), commonly known as "P. W." and Die Groot Krokodil (Afrikaans for "The Big Crocodile"), was the leader of South Africa from 1978 to 1989, serving as the last Prime Minister from 1978 to 1984 and the first executive State President from 1984 to 1989. First elected to Parliament in 1948, Botha was an outspoken opponent of majority rule and international communism. However, his administration did make concessions towards political reform, whereas internal unrest saw widespread human rights abuses at the hands of the government. Botha resigned the leadership of the ruling National Party in February 1989 after suffering a stroke and six months later was coerced to leave the presidency as well.

Conteúdo: In superficial ways, Botha's application of the apartheid system was less repressive than that of his predecessors. He legalised interracial marriage and miscegenation, both completely banned since the late 1940s. The constitutional prohibition on multiracial political parties was lifted. He also relaxed the Group Areas Act, which barred non-whites from living in certain areas. In 1988, a new law created "Open Group Areas" or racially mixed neighborhoods. But these neighborhoods had to receive a Government permit, and had to have the support of the local Whites immediately concerned, and had to be a high class neighborhood in the major cities typically in order to receive the permit. In 1983, the above constitutional reforms granted limited political rights to Coloureds and Indians. Botha also became the first South African government leader to authorise contacts with Nelson Mandela, the imprisoned leader of the African National Congress. However, in the face of rising discontent and violence, Botha refused to cede political power to blacks and imposed greater security measures against anti-apartheid activists. Botha also refused to negotiate with the ANC.  In 1985, Botha delivered the Rubicon speech which was a policy address in which he refused to give in to demands by the black population, including the release of Mandela. Botha's defiance of international opinion further isolated South Africa, leading to economic sanctions and a rapid decline in the value of the rand. The

user: What Was Bothas role in aprtheid

assistant: He legalised interracial marriage and miscegenation, both completely banned since the late 1940s.

user: Was this a popular move on his part?

assistant: CANNOTANSWER

user: Did he change any other laws during this time

assistant: The constitutional prohibition on multiracial political parties was lifted.

user: Were there any other segregation laws that he impacted

assistant: He also relaxed the Group Areas Act, which barred non-whites from living in certain areas.

user: What other impacts did he have on the government segregation issues

assistant: In 1988, a new law created "Open Group Areas" or racially mixed neighborhoods.

user: How many years was he active in fighting segregation

assistant: CANNOTANSWER

user: What other significant factors stand out in his fight against segregation

assistant: Botha also became the first South African government leader to authorise contacts with Nelson Mandela,

user: What was the result of his contacts with Mandela?

assistant: However, in the face of rising discontent and violence, Botha refused to cede political power to blacks and imposed greater security measures against anti-apartheid activists.

user: did this cause rioting and protests?

assistant: As economic and diplomatic actions against South Africa increased, civil unrest spread amongst the black population, supported by the ANC and neighbouring black-majority governments.

user: Did they eventually bring down the apartheid government

assistant: In spite of the concessions made by Botha, the apartheid years under his leadership were by far the most brutal.