- Go to Inside IOL to express your feelings about the death of PW Botha.
The African National Congress on Tuesday night extended its sympathy and condolences to the family and friends of former president PW Botha.
Botha died at his home, Die Anker, in Wilderness just after 8pm on Tuesday night. He was 90.
In a statement, the ANC wished Botha's family "strength and comfort at this difficult time".
Earlier a friend of Botha's, Hein Marx, said there had been no indication during the day that anything was amiss with Botha.
His wife Barbara found him dead in bed just after 8pm.
"Everything basically happened quite peacefully," Marx said.
He said Botha's death was "a shock to us".
"He was very, very healthy, except two weeks ago when he felt a bit sick and a bit bad."
Botha was admitted to hospital earlier in October, but at the time hospital personnel said he was undergoing routine tests.
Marx said Botha's eldest daughter, Elanza Maritz, who lives in George with her doctor husband, and his son Rossouw, who lives on a smallholding in the area, were with Mrs Botha on Tuesday evening along with a NG Church minister.
He said he assumed Botha's daughter Rozanne, who lives in Cape Town, and other son, Pieter, from Pretoria would also be making their way to Wilderness. - Sapa
- Go to Inside IOL to express your feelings about the death of PW Botha.