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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
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| Mbeki to attend Botha's funeral | Mbeki to attend Botha's funeral |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The funeral of PW Botha, the last South African leader to staunchly defend the apartheid system, is to take place, with President Thabo Mbeki attending. | The funeral of PW Botha, the last South African leader to staunchly defend the apartheid system, is to take place, with President Thabo Mbeki attending. |
| Mr Mbeki said on Tuesday a balanced appraisal was needed of Mr Botha's life "to promote nation-building and national reconciliation". | Mr Mbeki said on Tuesday a balanced appraisal was needed of Mr Botha's life "to promote nation-building and national reconciliation". |
| He said it was under Mr Botha that contacts first began with the ANC. | He said it was under Mr Botha that contacts first began with the ANC. |
| But some South Africans view Mr Mbeki's attendance as a betrayal of those who suffered under PW Botha's regime. | |
| The Botha family declined a state funeral and instead are holding it near the family home in the Western Cape town of George. | |
| Hundreds of mourners are expected at a Dutch Reformed Church in the coastal town, which has been festooned with white flowers. | Hundreds of mourners are expected at a Dutch Reformed Church in the coastal town, which has been festooned with white flowers. |
| Tribute | Tribute |
| There is also a prominent photograph of the former president on display, who died at the age of 90 last Tuesday. | There is also a prominent photograph of the former president on display, who 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 |
| Flags have been flown at half-mast from government buildings. | Flags have been flown at half-mast from government buildings. |
| Mr Botha's successor, FW de Klerk, who oversaw the dismantling of apartheid, is also expected at the funeral. | Mr Botha's successor, FW de Klerk, who oversaw the dismantling of apartheid, is also expected at the funeral. |
| 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. |
| A heated debate is taking place on South African radio talk shows on whether Mr Mbeki should attend the funeral. | A heated debate is taking place on South African radio talk shows on whether Mr Mbeki should attend the funeral. |
| Hundreds of African National Congress (ANC) activists went missing or were killed whilst Mr Botha ruled South Africa between 1978 and 1989. | Hundreds of African National Congress (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. |
| However, a statement from Mr Mbeki's office on Tuesday gave few hints at any bitterness on the part of Mr Mbeki. | However, a statement from Mr Mbeki's office on Tuesday gave few hints at any bitterness on the part of Mr Mbeki. |
| "Mr PW Botha led South Africa during a period of sustained repression against the majority of the population," the statement said. | "Mr PW Botha led South Africa during a period of sustained repression against the majority of the population," the statement said. |
| "However, it is also in this period that contact between the apartheid government and the ANC was initiated, ultimately leading - after Mr Botha's retirement - to the unbanning of democratic organisations and the negotiations process which brought about the historic transition in 1994." | "However, it is also in this period that contact between the apartheid government and the ANC was initiated, ultimately leading - after Mr Botha's retirement - to the unbanning of democratic organisations and the negotiations process which brought about the historic transition in 1994." |
| 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. |