The car in which Gavin Watson died after crashing into a concrete pillar. Image source: Twitter
There have been suspicions of foul play and pseudocide following the car accident that claimed the life of controversial Bosasa CEO Gavin Watson. Watson died on Monday morning near OR Tambo airport after he lost control of the car he was driving and crashed into a concrete pillar under a bridge.
Watson’s death came a day before he was supposed to appear in court to testify in an inquiry relating to a SARS investigation into his tax compliance.
Watson was implicated in state capture after it emerged in December last year that he personally donated R500 000 to president Cyril Ramaphosa’s presidential campaign in 2017 (CR17). Ramaphosa denied knowing about the donation but later an investigation by the Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane revealed that the president was hands-on during the fundraising process and knew about Watson’s donation. The matter is not yet closed and may be affected by Watson’s death.
Judging by reactions on social media, it looks like many people are not buying the story that Watson died in a freak accident. Some believe that he was assassinated for knowing too much while others think he faked his own death to avoid testifying.
EFF spokesperson Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi tweeted: “Here is the possible plot: I think the fear is that Gavin Watson & Barry Eugene Farber could have been key witnesses in the PP Bosasa matter should it go to court. But someone took concomitant action on both their lives. Basically to render the PP without any witnesses.” Barry Eugene Farber, a lawyer linked to the CR17 campaign, died in his sleep last week. Ramaphosa called for “concomitant” action by the police in 2012 during the Marikana strike, where 34 miners were shot dead.
Another Twitter user, who was clearly not convinced that Gavin Watson died by accident, wrote: “How come the greater part of his car is damaged on the right (driver’s side) than [the] left side, which is closer to the pillar? Fake accident scene.”
However, no evidence of foul play has been reported so far. A case of culpable homicide has been opened by the police. Meanwhile Watson’s family has hired accident reconstruction expert Konrad Lotter to investigate the cause of the accident.
