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Pik Botha
Ranga
 PIK
Botha who held the distinction of being South Africa’s longest-serving
Foreign Minister was in Delhi to sign two historic protocols
reestablishing diplomatic and consular ties in 1993, after a gap of 40
years. India had withdrawn its envoy and snapped ties with South Africa
in 1952 as a protest against the latter’s Apartheid policy and had
since played a leading role in the international campaign for Black
majority rule in that country.
Tall and hefty, Botha was amused to see
himself being sketched. He allowed me to sketch him in any manner I
liked and within the limited time he had at his disposal. When I
finished the sketch, he was still talking and interacting with the
visitors. After a while, he looked at me to find out whether Ihad
completed the picture. I told him that the picture was ready for his
signature. He was happy to affix his signature and when he asked for a
copy, I requested him to give a few minutes for me to prepare another
one. It was ready by the time he set out for his next engagement.
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