Chris Heunis, Minister of Constitutional Development and Planning, was appointed Acting State President by President P.W. Botha who was recovering from a mild stroke suffered on 18 January. Botha surprised everyone when he resigned from the National Party (NP) leadership but not as state president, where he continued to make key decisions, although recovering from a stroke.
19 January 1989
Chris Heunis is appointed acting president

- Updated
- 30 Sep 2019

How we know this
- 01nelsonmandela,'19 January 1989',[Online] Available at: www.nelsonmandela.org, [Accecessed on: 17 December 2013]
Last updated · 30 Sep 2019
South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Chris Heunis is appointed acting president. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012801
South African History Online (2011) 'Chris Heunis is appointed acting president', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012801 (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
South African History Online, Chris Heunis is appointed acting president [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012801, (accessed 7 October 2026).
"Chris Heunis is appointed acting president." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012801. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.
South African History Online. "Chris Heunis is appointed acting president." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012801.
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