South Africa today said goodbye to former president PW Botha, a man who in life was associated with some of the worst excesses of apartheid, but whose death has shown the strides a bitterly divided country has made toward reconciliation.

South Africa today prepared to say goodbye to former President PW Botha, a man who in life guided the country through some of the worst excesses of apartheid but whose death has shown the strides a bitterly divided country has made toward reconciliation.

PW Botha, the apartheid-era president who led South Africa through its worst racial violence and deepest international isolation, died peacefully in his sleep. He was 90.

SOUTH Africa’s last hardline white president, PW Botha, has died. He was 90.

South Africa’s last hardline white president, PW Botha, has died. He was 90.