Rozanne Botha
Rozanne Botha | |
|---|---|
| Born | Rozanne Botha October 14, 1959 |
| Died | 2 October 2022 (aged 62) |
| Education | Stellenbosch University |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Spouse | Schalk Visagie (1990–2022) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent(s) | P.W. Botha Anna Elizabeth Botha |
Rozanne Visagie (née Botha) (14 October 1959 – 2 October 2022) was a South African singer-songwriter and daughter of State President, P.W. Botha. She emerged as a minor celebrity figure during her father's presidency, appearing in the media and on magazine covers, where she was styled as the "First Daughter of the Land".[1][2]
Early life and education
[edit]Botha was born in Pretoria in 1959 to parents, Anna Elizabeth Botha and P.W. Botha. She was one of five children.[2]
She studied at Groote Schuur High School in Cape Town, where she was Head Girl.[2] At the age of 16, she was in a near-fatal car accident, when a drunk driver crashed into her card head-on. Botha suffered a ruptured spleen and internal bleeding. Botha later said: “It was my Damascus road experience, when I realised life was fleeting and I needed to seize the day — carpe diem — and make the most of every moment.”[2]
She also studied at the South African Army Women's College in George.[2] And she later attended Stellenbosch University, where she graduated with a BA in sociology and philosophy in 1981.[2] Among her professors was Willie Esterhuyse, who acted as an informal political advisor to her father.[3]
Biography
[edit]In the 1980s, Rozanne, emerged as a minor celebrity figure in the country. She released Afrikaans pop songs and appeared on the covers of magazines such as Sarie and Style, where she was dubbed "First Daughter of the Land".[4][2]
As a singer, she performed for South African Defence Force soldiers during the South African Border War.[5][1] Her song, "Kan 'n Man Dan Nie" was popular and was covered and released as a single by Afrikaans artist, Ruhan du Toit in 2024.[6]
In December 1987, CBS aired a documentary by Walter Cronkite that profiled Botha as the First Daughter of South Africa, as well as Zindzi Mandela, the daughter of Nelson Mandela. Die Burger, an Afrikaans newspaper, ran a front-page report that Botha had been "misused" in the documentary. In response, the South African Department of Foreign Affairs lodged a complaint with the US network. The newspaper claimed that the documentary-makers constructed a narrative to make it appear that Miss Botha and Miss Mandela "lived on separate planets."[7][8][9] In a May 1988 speech to parliament, P.W. Botha harshly criticised "media terrorists", but said that no action would be take against CBS.[10] The government had alleged that as Cronkite was in South Africa on a visitor's visa, that he had violated media regulations by working on the documentary without being issued a work permit.[10] The president decided not to take action after receiving a response from CBS network news president, Howard Stringer.[10]
According to Nelson Mandela's former private secretary, Zelda La Grange, Mandela was fond of Botha's husband, Schalk Visagie, a top cop, as he was progressive-minded and had influence over his more conservative wife, Rozanne.[11] At her employer's request, La Grange arranged a dinner between the president, Rozanne, Schalk and Rozanne's sister Elsa, and her husband on 8 February 1998. Mandela had hoped to lobby the family so that they would persuade Botha to testify at the new government's Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), set up to expose apartheid-era crimes and chaired by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. There was no unanimous agreement between the family, with Rozanne strongly opposed, believing that her father could face prosecution and/or humiliation in the court.[11]
In 1999, Botha's husband, Schalk Visagie, who was in charge of the PAGAD unit of the police, was shot.[12][13][14] He suffered three bullet wounds, and the couple were visited in hospital by Nelson Mandela.[15]
In addition to singing, she worked as a columnist for the Afrikaans newspaper, Beeld.[2] She also worked for Mimosa Films as a production coordinator, creating documentary films.[2]
Personal life
[edit]In 1990, Botha married Schalk Visagie. The couple had two children together, Schalk Jr. and Shanna.[2]
In early 2022, Botha's sister, Amelia Paschke, died in a car crash driving back from Betty's Bay.[16][17]
Death
[edit]Botha died of cancer on 2 October 2022 at a private hospital in Cape Town.[2][18][19][5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Silber, Gus; Prendini Toffoli, Hilary (1989). Who's Really Who in South Africa. Jonathan Ball Publishers. p. 24.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Rozanne Visagie obituary: Faith helped daughter of South African national leader P.W. Botha through obstacles The West Australian. 7 October 2022
- ^ Waldmeir, Patti (1998). Anatomy of a Miracle: The End of Apartheid and the Birth of the New South Africa. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press. p. 76.
- ^ Rozanne Visagie has Finished her Race Frontline Mission SA. 3 October 2022
- ^ a b 'n Lewe: PW Botha se Rozanne ’n soldaat, sanger en vriend van behoeftiges Rapport. 9 October 2024
- ^ Ruhan du Toit stof bekende FAK-liedjie af! thegotoguy.co.za. 30 September 2024
- ^ "S. Africa complains CBS misused Botha's daughter". The Washington Times, 8 December 1987
- ^ South Africa Warns It May Punish CBS Over Documentary The Los Angeles Times. 12 December 1987
- ^ Pretoria Complains to CBS On Making of Documentary The New York Times. 8 December 1987
- ^ a b c Media in South Africa told to abide by rules UPI. 20 May 1988
- ^ a b La Grange, Zelda (2014). Good Morning, Mr Mandela. London: Penguin Books.
- ^ Pagad cop tells of escaping bloody ambush Iol. 14 August 2001
- ^ Cape urban terror suspects escape in shootout News24. 4 October 2001
- ^ Sunset for Cape Town vigilantes? The New York Times. 29 March 1999
- ^ All in a Life's Work The Washington Post. 22 February 1999
- ^ PW Botha’s daughter Amelia dies in car accident The Times. 21 January 2022
- ^ PW Botha se dogter dood in motorongeluk Netwerk24. 20 January 2022
- ^ Rozanne Visagie se lewe Saterdag gevier Netwerk24. 4 October 2022
- ^ PW Botha se dogter sterf ná kankerstryd Netwerk24. 2 October 2022