Memorable quotes from the ‘Groot Krokodil’

SOUTH AFRICA has nothing to hide.

– as Minister of Defence, on September 1 1976, making an offer to the Guardian newspaper to visit the north of Namibia to investigate allegations of torture. The offer was withdrawn four days later. * AS long as there is a National Party government, we won’t hand over South West Africa to the authority of Swapo.- as Prime Minister, in an interview with The New York Times, April 29 1981.* IF we allow the communist flag over Windhoek, South Africa’s enemies will stand with their rifles on the banks of the Orange River.- as State President, at an election meeting at Lichtenburg, March 25 1987.* I’M an African.- as Prime Minister, interviewed in The New York Times, February 17 1983.* I AM not prepared to lead white South Africans and other minority groups on a road to abdication and suicide.- Botha to a National Party Congress in August 1985.* NOT only will we survive (economic sanctions), we will emerge stronger on the other side.- New York Times, Sept 1986.* I DON’T care what they remember about me.I led South Africa on the right path.Order, prosperity.Problems too, but the problems were dealt with effectively.- In an October 2006 interview with Afrikaans newspaper Rapport.* I AM sorry to disappoint you.- When contacted by journalists checking on rumours in 2002 that he had died.* AS soon as he (Nelson Mandela) renounces violence and undertakes not to start violence in South Africa, government will release him.- Said in 1988.* I NEVER regarded these people as being inferior …because many black people, and coloured people, cooperated with government policies.- In a filmed interview rejected by South Africa’s main TV channels.* WE wouldn’t have taken them into the industrial area if they were inferior.Certainly, all my life I considered them (blacks) to be fellow creatures of God.Different, yes, in the sense that historically we belonged to different ethnic groups.- In a January 2000 interview with CNN.* ORDER has to be restored in this country.There is misrule, too much corruption and too many lies.- In a Rapport interview.* WE must adapt or we will die.- As Prime Minister, in an interview on August 7 1979.* IT’S a psychological onslaught, an economic one, a diplomatic one, a military onslaught – a total onslaught.- Inventing the idea of “a total onslaught” against South Africa, as Minister of Defence, in the SA Parliament, April 171978.* I BELIEVE that we are today crossing the Rubicon.There can be no turning back.- As State President, also at the National Party congress in Durban, August 15 1985 * THE separation of races happened long before the Nationalist Government.God separated the races.- Speaking as Prime Minister during a European tour in 1984 * I HATE no black man.I hate no brown man.The same God that made me put them there too.My God is not only for the Afrikaners.- speaking as Prime Minister at a National Party Congress, September 18 1979.* YOU can trust us.- as Minister of Defence, in Cape Town, August 24 1977.- ‘PW Botha In His Own Words’, compiled by Pieter-Dirk Uys.* AS long as there is a National Party government, we won’t hand over South West Africa to the authority of Swapo.- as Prime Minister, in an interview with The New York Times, April 29 1981.* IF we allow the communist flag over Windhoek, South Africa’s enemies will stand with their rifles on the banks of the Orange River.- as State President, at an election meeting at Lichtenburg, March 25 1987.* I’M an African.- as Prime Minister, interviewed in The New York Times, February 17 1983.* I AM not prepared to lead white South Africans and other minority groups on a road to abdication and suicide.- Botha to a National Party Congress in August 1985.* NOT only will we survive (economic sanctions), we will emerge stronger on the other side.- New York Times, Sept 1986.* I DON’T care what they remember about me.I led South Africa on the right path.Order, prosperity.Problems too, but the problems were dealt with effectively.- In an October 2006 interview with Afrikaans newspaper Rapport.* I AM sorry to disappoint you.- When contacted by journalists checking on rumours in 2002 that he had died.* AS soon as he (Nelson Mandela) renounces violence and undertakes not to start violence in South Africa, government will release him.- Said in 1988.* I NEVER regarded these people as being inferior …because many black people, and coloured people, cooperated with government policies.- In a filmed interview rejected by South Africa’s main TV channels.* WE wouldn’t have taken them into the industrial area if they were inferior.Certainly, all my life I considered them (blacks) to be fellow creatures of God.Different, yes, in the sense that historically we belonged to different ethnic groups.- In a January 2000 interview with CNN.* ORDER has to be restored in this country.There is misrule, too much corruption and too many lies.- In a Rapport interview.* WE must adapt or we will die.- As Prime Minister, in an interview on August 7 1979.* IT’S a psychological onslaught, an economic one, a diplomatic one, a military onslaught – a total onslaught.- Inventing the idea of “a total onslaught” against South Africa, as Minister of Defence, in the SA Parliament, April 171978.* I BELIEVE that we are today crossing the Rubicon.There can be no turning back.- As State President, also at the National Party congress in Durban, August 15 1985 * THE separation of races happened long before the Nationalist Government.God separated the races.- Speaking as Prime Minister during a European tour in 1984 * I HATE no black man.I hate no brown man.The same God that made me put them there too.My God is not only for the Afrikaners.- speaking as Prime Minister at a National Party Congress, September 18 1979.* YOU can trust us.- as Minister of Defence, in Cape Town, August 24 1977.- ‘PW Botha In His Own Words’, compiled by Pieter-Dirk Uys.

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