SA robbed of Watson’s version

Gavin Watson’s death, especially in the manner in which it happened, was always going to spark a wave of conspiracies from a sceptical public desperate to make sense of the often bizarre happenings in our country. The 71-year-old anti-apartheid activist-turned-businessman crashed his modest company car near the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Monday morning. Indeed the accident itself raised several questions, chief among them being why Watson would drive at a high speed – as suggested by the extent of the vehicle damage – on a potentially dangerous highway artery into the airport. And then there is the circumstantial evidence.

The man was at the centre of a bribery and corruption storm with allegations that he – through his company Bosasa – had bankrolled politicians in exchange for government contracts and to evade prosecution.

He was recently uncovered as one of the donors for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s CR17 election campaign.

Further, that he was due to appear before an inquiry into his tax affairs and, subsequently, at the Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture where he would have likely implicated some powerful figures – all raise curious questions about the timing of his death.

To many, these questions may lend credence to purported narratives that there may be something more sinister to his death than a mere accident.

However, interesting as they may be, we must all be mindful that until there are verifiable facts presented, these theories remain just that – theories.

What is of major consequence from here on is what Watson’s death means in the context of the Zondo commission, as well as the investigations into his dealings.

His death has no doubt robbed his family and friends of a father, a brother and a comrade.

It has also robbed our country of the opportunity to hear his version of events on all he has been accused of.

But with all the complexities Watson’s death presents to the ongoing investigation, we hope it does not also signal the end of a probe which should unearth the whole truth and hold accountable those found guilty of wrongdoing.