Apartheid defence minister Magnus Malan dies

Former defence minister Magnus Malan has died peacefully at his home in Durbanville, Cape Town.

Malan served as minister of defence from 1980 to 1991, an appointment that followed a long military career - stretching back to the 1950s - in the SA Defence Force.

He rose through the ranks and was appointed chief of the defence force in 1976.

The ANC said his death marked the end of an era in South Africa's history of transition from the tyranny of apartheid to constitutional democracy.

A friend and former colleague, General Gert Opperman, said the former general died of heart failure.

''He had been ill for quite some time, and his condition had deteriorated in the past few weeks,'' Opperman said.

Malan built a reputation as a highly competent strategist and became one of the leading exponents of the belief that there was a need to fight a ''total onslaught'' against South Africa.

He became chief of the army in 1973 and chief of the defence force in 1976.

In 1980, he was appointed to the cabinet of PW Botha as minister of defence.

During his term as minister of defence, troops were used in the control of unrest in townships.

He was National Party MP for Modderfontein.

In 1986, following the introduction of a national state of emergency, he argued that political rights were not a concern among the black masses.

He leaves a wife of 49 years as well as three children and nine grandchildren, his family said.