Johan Samuel Frederick Botha

Johan Samuel Frederick Botha was born in Steynsburg, Cape Province, on 18 February 1919. He studied at Stellenbosch University and the University of South Africa, earning a bachelor’s degree in economics. After serving in the South African Army from 1940 to 1946, he entered the Department of Foreign Affairs as a third secretary in 1947. ⁴

His first Washington posting began in 1950. He moved to the high commission in Ottawa in 1954, represented South Africa at the United Nations, and returned to Pretoria as a departmental counsellor. In 1962 he became consul general in Tokyo. Two years later he returned to Washington as minister, before taking charge of the foreign ministry’s political division in 1967, with responsibility for Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Australasia. ⁴

Botha returned to Washington as ambassador in 1971, bringing experience of two earlier postings at the embassy. President Richard Nixon received his credentials in the White House Blue Room on 21 September. His work included accompanying South African Postmaster General Louis F. Rive to a meeting with American Postmaster General Benjamin Bailar on 4 April 1975. ^{4, 1, 2}

Botha completed his tour and returned to South Africa in 1975. He was succeeded by Roelof Frederik “Pik” Botha. ³