Rekruteringspatrone in die kabinette van P.W. Botha: ‘n ontleding van Biografiese Besonderhede (1978–1989)

ABSTRACT

This article analyses the biographical and demographic composition of the cabinet members of former prime minister and state president P.W. Botha during his period as head of government in South Africa 1978–1989. The article tries to identify the criteria used by Botha in appointing ministers to the South African cabinet. It concludes that the Botha pattern of recruitment emphasised the party political representative functions of members of his cabinets at the expense of its state administrative functions. Some comparisons with cabinet recruitment patterns in Western‐European democracies are made.