Tricameral Constitution Approved
Secures approval for constitutional restructuring excluding Black voters.
Role range: 1978-1984
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Pieter Willem Botha Biography and Timeline — Page 2
Follow Pieter Willem Botha through 66 dated historical records for South Africa.
Pieter Willem Botha, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
66Distinct records
2 of 2Page
1983–1989Years on this page
1983
Tricameral Constitution Approved
Secures approval for a tricameral parliamentary system.
Role range: 1978-1984
1984
Nkomati Accord
Signs a non-aggression accord with Mozambique.
Role range: 1978-1984
Non-Aggression Agreement with Mozambique
Seeks limits on cross-border support for armed opposition movements.
Role range: 1978-1984
New Constitutional System
Black South Africans remain excluded from national parliamentary representation.
Role range: 1984-1989
Tricameral Constitution Begins
The new tricameral constitutional system comes into force.
Role range: 1984-1989
Executive State Presidency
Becomes executive State President under the new constitution.
Role range: 1984-1989
Executive State President
Is elected South Africa's first executive state president.
Role range: 1984-1989
New Constitution Takes Effect
The office of prime minister is abolished.
Role range: 1984-1989
State Presidency Begins
The premiership is abolished under the new constitution.
Role range: 1984-1989
1985
Mandela Conditional Release Offer
Offers Nelson Mandela release if he renounces political violence.
Role range: 1984-1989
Prison Release Proposal
Mandela rejects the condition in a statement read publicly.
Role range: 1984-1989
Emergency Powers Declared
Expands detention and censorship powers amid nationwide political unrest.
Role range: 1984-1989
Partial State of Emergency
Declares a state of emergency in selected districts.
Role range: 1984-1989
1986
Emergency Lifted
Allows the 1985 state of emergency to lapse.
Role range: 1984-1989
Partial Emergency Ends
The respite from emergency rule lasts only several months.
Role range: 1984-1989
Emergency Rule Expanded
Security forces receive extensive powers of detention and censorship.
Role range: 1984-1989
Nationwide State of Emergency
Declares a nationwide state of emergency.
Role range: 1984-1989
1987
General Election Victory
Leads the National Party to victory in the white election.
Role range: 1978-1989
National Party Retains Power
Retains government despite stronger Conservative Party opposition.
Role range: 1978-1989
1989
Health Crisis
Temporarily steps back from presidential duties during recovery.
Role range: 1984-1989
Stroke
Suffers a stroke that weakens his political position.
Role range: 1984-1989
De Klerk Succession
F W de Klerk subsequently succeeds him as party leader.
Role range: 1978-1989
National Party Leadership Resignation
Resigns as National Party leader after his stroke.
Role range: 1978-1989
Meeting with Nelson Mandela
Meets imprisoned Nelson Mandela at Tuynhuys.
Role range: 1984-1989
Tuynhuys Meeting
The meeting signals growing contact between government and Mandela.
Role range: 1984-1989
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.