Marais Viljoen, National Party politician

JOHANNESBURG – South African politician Marais Viljoen, who held what was then the largely ceremonial post of president in the 1980s, died on Thursday.

He was 91. Viljoen, who was born near Robertson in the Cape, was president between 1979 and 1984.Under a new constitution in 1984, the presidency became executive; PW Botha was elected to the post in 1984.Botha, South Africa’s last hard-line white president, died last year at the age of 90.Viljoen also held several Cabinet posts under and served under Prime Minister HF Verwoerd, who was regarded as the architect of apartheid.Nampa-APViljoen, who was born near Robertson in the Cape, was president between 1979 and 1984.Under a new constitution in 1984, the presidency became executive; PW Botha was elected to the post in 1984.Botha, South Africa’s last hard-line white president, died last year at the age of 90.Viljoen also held several Cabinet posts under and served under Prime Minister HF Verwoerd, who was regarded as the architect of apartheid.Nampa-AP

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