Pieter Willem Botha,
DMS (12 January 1916 – 31 October 2006), commonly known as
"P. W." and
Die Groot Krokodil (
Afrikaans for "The Big Crocodile"), was the leader of
South Africa from 1978 to 1989, serving as the last
Prime Minister from 1978 to 1984 and the first executive
State President from 1984 to 1989.