ANC sends condolences

2006-10-31 23:41

Johannesburg - The African National Congress extended its sympathy and condolences on Tuesday night to the family and friends of former president PW Botha.

Botha died at his home, Die Anker, in the Wilderness just after 20:00 on Tuesday night. He was 90.

In a statement, the ANC wished Botha's family "strength and comfort at this difficult time".

Earlier, a friend of Botha's, Hein Marx, said there had been no indication during the day that anything was amiss.

His wife, Barbara, had found him dead in bed just after 20:00.

Marx said: "Everything basically happened quite peacefully."

He said Botha's death was "a shock to us".

"He was very very healthy, except two weeks ago when he felt a bit sick and a bit bad."

Botha was admitted to hospital earlier in October, but hospital personnel said at the time that he was undergoing routine tests.

Family on the way

Marx said Botha's eldest daughter, Elanza Maritz, who lives in George with her doctor husband, and his son, Rossouw, who lives on a smallholding in the area, were with Mrs Botha on Tuesday evening along with a Dutch Reformed Church minister.

He said he assumed Botha's daughter Rozanne, who lives in Cape Town, and other son, Pieter, from Pretoria, would also be making their way to the Wilderness.

Botha's first wife, Elize, is buried in a graveyard at a church on a hilltop above the Wilderness.

- SAPA