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eventREF E-0012800Revised

Event record

President P.W. Botha suffers a stroke.

Date
18 Jan 1989
Updated
30 Sep 2019
President P.W. Botha suffers a stroke.

On 18 January 1989, P W Botha suffered a mild stroke at the age of 73. He was scheduled to meet with Namibian political leaders on 20 January 1989, but could not attend the meeting due to his ailing condition. Acting president, Christiaan Heunis, attended the meeting in his place.  Some sources say that the stroke left him partially paralysed, but despite his health, Botha refused to resign and was subsequently ousted from office by members of his own party. Even after the party's actions, he persistently retained the presidency amid rumours of his resignation.

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How we know this

  1. 01Kalley, J.A.; Schoeman, E. & Andor, L.E. (eds) (1999). Southern African Political History: A Chronology of Key Political Events from Independence to mid-1997, Westport: Greenwood. (From Archive)

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). President P.W. Botha suffers a stroke.. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012800

South African History Online (2011) 'President P.W. Botha suffers a stroke.', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012800 (Accessed: 5 August 2026).

South African History Online, President P.W. Botha suffers a stroke. [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012800, (accessed 5 August 2026).

"President P.W. Botha suffers a stroke.." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012800. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "President P.W. Botha suffers a stroke.." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012800.

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