Prior to entering provincial politics, Botha was elected to 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. 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. He 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 in the Western Cape Provincial Parliament. He was re-elected to a second term as Provincial Leader after he defeated Lennit Max. He won with about 69 percent of the vote. 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. He was re-elected to another term as Provincial Leader in 2010 after he had defeated Dan Plato and Lennit Max. He 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. During a parliamentary debate in May 2013, Botha was accused of using the racist Afrikaans slur "bobbejaan" 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. 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 become Western Cape Provincial Minister of Health. The changes came into effect on 1 January 2015. 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. Botha has since returned to the private sector.
