Theuns Botha
{{Short description|South African politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
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| name = Theuns Botha
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| image = Theuns Botha.jpg
| image_size = 250px
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| office = Western Cape Provincial Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport
| premier = Helen Zille
| term_start = 1 January 2015
| predecessor = Nomafrench Mbombo
| successor = Anroux Marais
| term_end = 19 April 2015
| office1 = Western Cape Provincial Minister of Health
| premier1 = Helen Zille
| term_start1 = 7 May 2009
| predecessor1 = Marius Fransman
| successor1 = Nomafrench Mbombo
| term_end1 = 1 January 2015
| office2 = Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament
| premier2 =
| term_start2 = 26 April 2004
| term_end2 = 19 April 2015
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| nationality = South African
| party = Democratic Alliance
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| occupation = Politician
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Theunis Louis "Theuns" Botha is a retired South African politician of the Democratic Alliance.[https://www.pa.org.za/person/theuns-botha/ Mr Theuns Botha]. Retrieved on 27 January 2019. Previously, he served as the Western Provincial Minister of Cultural Affairs and as the Western Cape Provincial Minister of Health. He also served as a Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament from 2004 to 2015. He was Leader of the Opposition in the Provincial Parliament from 2004 to 2009 and Leader of the Democratic Alliance in the Western Cape from 2002 to 2012. Botha was also Deputy Provincial Leader of the party from 2012 to 2015.
Career
Prior to entering provincial politics, Botha was elected as a councillor of the Riversdale Municipality in 1995. In 2000, he was elected Mayor of the Hessequa Local Municipality.
In 2001, Botha was elected Western Cape Provincial Chairperson of the Democratic Alliance.[https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/SA-democracy-needs-DA-Leon-20030301 SA democracy needs DA - Leon]. Retrieved on 27 January 2019. He was designated to succeed Gerald Morkel as Provincial Leader of the Democratic Alliance, after Morkel had announced that he would resign the role. He was elected to a full term as Provincial Leader in March 2003, after he defeated Sydney Opperman, Tony da Silva and Pauline Cupido.[https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/a-dark-day-for-gerald-morkel-97908 A dark day for Gerald Morkel], IOL, 5 December 2002. Retrieved on 27 January 2019. Botha was elected to the Western Cape Provincial Parliament in 2004 and took office as a Member on 26 April 2004. He was designated to the position of Leader of the Opposition of the legislature.[https://www.politicsweb.co.za/news-and-analysis/zilles-cabinet-for-the-western-cape Zille's cabinet for the Western Cape]. Retrieved on 27 January 2019. He was re-elected to a second term as Provincial Leader after he defeated Lennit Max with about 69 percent of the vote.[https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/botha-re-elected-as-da-leader-377435 Botha re-elected as DA leader]. Retrieved on 27 January 2019.
In 2006 Botha formed a cabal of ex-New National Party stalwarts within the Democratic Alliance. Together with Dan Roodt, the far-right founder of the pro-Afrikaans Action Group (PRAAG), their new organisation, tentatively named the "Republican Party", would unite Afrikaans-speakers (both coloured and white) with Zulu-speakers led by Jacob Zuma, who had been fired as deputy president and was in the political wilderness. In September 2007, when cabal members Kent Morkel and Kobus Brynard walked out, Theuns Botha unexpectedly decided to stay in the DA as provincial leader.Helen Zille, Not Without a Fight: the autobiography, {{ISBN|978-1-77609-042-6}}
In 2009, the Democratic Alliance won a majority in the Provincial Parliament. Botha was appointed to the post of Western Cape Provincial Minister of Health. He was succeeded by Lynne Brown as Leader of the Opposition.[https://www.westerncape.gov.za/news/appointment-western-cape-provincial-cabinet Appointment of the Western Cape Provincial Cabinet]. Retrieved on 27 January 2019.[https://www.health-e.org.za/2009/05/13/new-health-mecs/ New Health MECs]. Retrieved on 27 January 2019. He was re-elected to another term as Provincial Leader in 2010 after he had defeated Dan Plato and Lennit Max.[https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/da-divided-as-botha-keeps-top-spot-475547 DA divided as Botha keeps top spot]. Retrieved on 27 January 2019. Botha announced his intention to stand down as Provincial Leader of the party in 2012 and opted to run for the post of Deputy Provincial Leader. He was succeeded by Ivan Meyer as Provincial Leader, and Botha was elected Deputy Provincial Leader.[https://mg.co.za/article/2012-09-27-da-chafes-about-leader-who-wont-go DA chafes about leader who won't go]. Retrieved on 27 January 2019.
During a parliamentary debate in May 2013, Botha was accused of using the racist Afrikaans slur "bobbejaan" (baboon) in reference to African National Congress member Zodwa Magwaza. Botha denied his words but, after review of the Hansard record by the Speaker, he was forced to apologise.{{cite news |last1=Coetzee |first1=Cobus |title=MEC forced to apologise for baboon slur |url=https://www.iol.co.za/capetimes/news/mec-forced-to-apologise-for-baboon-slur-1532573 |accessdate=20 June 2020 |newspaper=IOL |date=14 June 2013}}
In December 2014, Premier Helen Zille announced that Botha and Nomafrench Mbombo would exchange ministerial positions. Botha would become Western Cape Provincial Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, while Mbombo would take his position. The changes came into effect on 1 January 2015.Makinana, Andisiwe. [https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Zille-cracks-whip-in-Cabinet-reshuffle-20141231 Zille cracks whip in Cabinet reshuffle], News24, 31 December 2014. Retrieved on 27 January 2019.[https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/No-sinister-reasons-behind-W-Cape-govt-reshuffle-Botha-20150103 No sinister reasons behind W Cape govt reshuffle - Botha]. Retrieved on 28 July 2019.
Botha was unseated as Deputy Provincial Leader by Bonginkosi Madikizela in April 2015. Madikizela won by a narrow margin. Botha subsequently announced his resignation from the Western Cape Government and Provincial Parliament and was succeeded by Anroux Marais as provincial minister.[https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/de-lille-new-da-provincial-leader-1847170 De Lille new DA provincial leader]. Retrieved on 27 January 2019.{{cite news |last1=Bernardo |first1=Carla |title=DA's Botha retires from public office |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/das-botha-retires-from-public-office-1847395 |accessdate=3 January 2020 |agency=IOL |date=20 April 2015}}
Botha has since returned to the private sector and in 2017 he joined Medicoop co-operative bank as managing director.[https://www.fin24.com/Companies/Health/former-minister-heads-up-new-health-care-cooperative-20170526 Former minister heads up new health care cooperative], Fin24, 26 May 2017. Retrieved on 28 July 2019.
In 2018 Botha was back in the public eye when he used social media to heavily criticise the handling of the water shortage by the Democratic Alliance Water crisis is a 'governance disaster' - former Western Cape MEC: News 24 28 Jan 2018
In June 2019 he was investigated for the alleged theft of 40,000 litres of water per day from his neighbour in Riversdale.Ex-DA leader caught in water dispute: Dominic Adriaanse, Cape Times 24 June 2019
References
{{Reflist}}
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{{s-bef|before=Nomafrench Mbombo}}
{{s-ttl|title=Western Cape Provincial Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport|years=2015}}
{{s-aft|after= Anroux Marais}}
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{{s-bef|before=Marius Fransman}}
{{s-ttl|title=Western Cape Provincial Minister of Health|years=2009–2015}}
{{s-aft|after=Nomafrench Mbombo}}
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{{Zille provincial cabinet}}
{{Members of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Botha, Theuns}}
Category:Democratic Alliance (South Africa) politicians
Category:Members of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Mayors of places in South Africa