P.W Botha

• In 1978, John Vorster was replaced as prime minister by P.W Botha (1978-1984) (president 1984-1989).
• John Vorster was removed as a result of the "murdergate" scandal where it was revealed £40 million had been illegally spent on propaganda and bribery abroad to support the Apartheid regime.
• P.W Botha was previously Minister of defence and Prime Minister became Prime Minister in 1978.
• In 1977, Botha announced that SA was in a war which required a "total strategy", because Apartheid and separate development were not working.
• The Apartheid Government believed that the installation of an ANC government would lead to Communist Domination.
• It argued that in conducting the struggle against the ANC, they were playing an important role in the West's global resistance to the expansion of Soviet Communism.
• The National Security Management System (NSMS) was created in 1979 to co-ordinate all state action and reforms in line with the "total onslaught, total strategy".
• P.W Botha became Minister of Defence in 1966 and Prime Minister in 1978.
• The government believed that the installation of an ANC government would lead to Communist domination, arguing that in conducting a struggle against against the ANC, they were playing an important role in the West's global resistance to the expansion of Soviet Communism.
• The National Security Management System (NSMS) was created in 1979 to co-ordinate all state actions and reforms in line with "Total onslaught, total strategy".
• Botha aimed to preserve Grand Apartheid, by sacrificing Petty Apartheid.