PW Botha, the champion of apartheid, dies at age of 90

PW BOTHA, who was the face of white South Africa as president at the height of the anti-apartheid struggle, died last night aged 90.

Mr Botha led the country through its worst racial violence and deepest international isolation as head of the white racist government from 1978 to 1989.

Known for his finger-wagging and nicknamed the "Great Crocodile" for his feared temper, Mr Botha was toppled in a cabinet rebellion.

Throughout his leadership he resisted mounting pressure to release South Africa's most famous political prisoner, Nelson Mandela, who was freed by Mr Botha's successor, FW de Klerk, in 1990.

Although Mr Botha's security forces killed more than 2,000 people and an estimated 25,000 were detained without trial , he refused to apologise for apartheid and denied any knowledge of the torture and assassinations.

He declined to appear before the state-appointed Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2003, which

concluded that he was guilty of gross human rights violations.

He spent his final years in seclusion at a seaside resort.