Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Gavin Watson

Gavin Joseph Watson (1948–2019) was a South African businessman who served as of , a facilities management firm that expanded rapidly through contracts in correctional services, , and . Acquired by Watson in 2000, secured billions in state tenders amid allegations of systematic bribery, including cash payments, luxury upgrades, and kickbacks to officials, as exposed by whistleblower testimony from former chief operations officer Angelo Agrizzi and corroborated by forensic audits. These practices formed a core element of South Africa's phenomenon, where politically connected entities like allegedly looted public resources via the African National Congress-linked networks, with the later documenting "overwhelming evidence" of corruption as 's standard operating model. Watson, who cultivated a public image as a devout Christian and ANC benefactor through substantial party donations, faced no criminal charges before his but was summoned to testify at the Zondo on these matters. On 26 August 2019, he died when his vehicle struck a pillar near Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport; a pathologist's preliminary findings indicated a possible cardiac event five seconds prior to impact, ruling out immediate trauma as the , though the exact sequence remains debated amid fueled by the probe's timing.

Early Life and Family

Upbringing and Anti-Apartheid Roots

Gavin Watson was born on 12 July 1948 in the province of , the eldest of four white brothers in a family that rejected the enforced by the regime. His siblings included Daniel "Cheeky" Watson, Valence Watson, and Ronnie Watson, who collectively gained notoriety for early opposition to apartheid's color bar through personal associations with banned organizations like the (ANC) and the United Democratic Front (UDF). The brothers' household emphasized Christian values that clashed with state-mandated racial hierarchy, fostering an environment of defiance amid widespread white complicity in segregation laws. From the late , the Watson family engaged in underground resistance networks, with members openly identifying with the outlawed ANC and facing surveillance and vilification from apartheid security forces as a result. Ronnie Watson, in particular, aligned publicly with ANC objectives, while the brothers collectively supported anti-segregation initiatives that exposed them to legal and social repercussions in a system punishing interracial contact. This familial commitment to resistance provided Watson's early exposure to clandestine operations against , contrasting sharply with the era's enforced separation of racial groups under laws like the Population Registration Act of 1950 and the Group Areas Act of 1950. Watson's personal defiance manifested in the 1970s through his participation in multiracial rugby matches in black townships such as Zwide in Port Elizabeth, alongside brother Cheeky, directly contravening apartheid bans on interracial sports and restrictions on white entry into designated black areas. These games, organized in defiance of provincial and national sports segregation policies, led to lifetime bans from white rugby unions and arrests for brothers Valence and Cheeky in 1976 for related activism. By challenging the regime's control over public spaces and athletics—core pillars of apartheid social engineering—Watson's actions exemplified empirical resistance, earning the family exemptions from some trade restrictions in recognition of their stance, though it intensified police harassment.

Family Dynamics and Key Relatives

Gavin Watson was the eldest of four brothers—Gavin, Ronnie, Valence, and Cheeky (born Daniel)—raised on a family farm near in the , where their father, a , instilled a strong Christian ethos that shaped their early opposition to . The brothers formed a tight-knit unit, all participating in during youth and collectively defying apartheid restrictions by promoting interracial sports and community initiatives in Port Elizabeth, earning them recognition as white allies in the liberation struggle. Post-apartheid, the Watsons transitioned into entrepreneurial pursuits, leveraging their struggle-era networks; Gavin led facilities management firms, while Cheeky pursued rugby administration roles with teams like the and Eastern Province Kings, and Valence and Ronnie engaged in mining ventures under the Kebble group. Their shared history included joint legal challenges, such as the 1987 involving Valence, Ronnie, and Cheeky over a home fire, which they attributed to political targeting amid their . These interconnections underscored a dynamic rooted in mutual support across , , and residual political affiliations, though without evidence of formalized joint enterprises beyond early collaborative defiance. Public records provide scant details on Gavin Watson's or immediate , with attention centering on the brothers' profiles rather than personal family extensions. The family's evolution from Eastern Cape farm life and anti-apartheid advocacy to varied professional spheres reflected a collective adaptation to democratic , maintaining ties through heritage and occasional shared public scrutiny.

Business Career

Early Ventures and Entry into Facilities Management

Gavin Watson's initial foray into business occurred in the mid-to-late , shortly after South Africa's transition from , when he aligned with Dyambu Holdings, a company originally established by figures associated with the ANC Women's League to capitalize on emerging economic opportunities in and service provision. Dyambu operated as a small-scale entity, focusing on transport and activities amid the country's push toward and of public services. By the late , under Watson's emerging leadership role, the company pivoted toward government-adjacent sectors, securing entry into facilities management through contracts for correctional services, including maintenance and operational support for state prisons. This expansion leveraged the post-apartheid policy shifts that encouraged involvement in , with Dyambu providing initial services such as cleaning and enhancements in penal facilities. Watson's involvement positioned the firm to bid on tenders in these areas, marking a strategic shift from pure to integrated facilities operations. These early contracts, valued in the initial phases at modest scales before scaling up, established a foothold in the competitive landscape of South Africa's privatizing , where firms like Dyambu competed for opportunities in high-security environments. By 2000, Watson had consolidated control, acquiring shares for R5.5 million and steering the entity toward broader facilities management specialization, though his pre-acquisition efforts laid the groundwork for this trajectory.

Leadership of Bosasa and African Global Operations

Gavin Watson assumed the role of of in 2000, following the company's acquisition and renaming to Bosasa 2000. Under his leadership, the firm expanded from initial facilities management into specialized services for correctional institutions, including , inmate tracking, and related IT solutions. grew to handle contracts in hygiene and maintenance for clients, leveraging operational efficiencies to scale its footprint in South Africa's correctional system. By the mid-2000s, had secured state contracts generating revenues exceeding R7 billion from the Department of Correctional Services alone, with cumulative payments reaching R7.1 billion across eight agreements awarded since 2004. Overall state department engagements contributed an estimated R12 billion in value between 2004 and 2019, reflecting Watson's strategic focus on public infrastructure services. The company's growth emphasized integration of IT-driven processes, positioning it as a key provider in inmate management and facility operations. In , Watson oversaw the rebranding of Bosasa's operations division to African Global Operations, aiming to broaden its international scope amid evolving market demands. This transition maintained continuity in core services while adapting to heightened regulatory and commercial scrutiny. Watson's tenure featured innovations in electronic monitoring systems, including and deployment of tracking technologies for correctional centers. These systems supported real-time offender movement oversight, integrated with broader IT frameworks for enhanced . Tender documents verified Bosasa's role in advancing such tools, contributing to operational upgrades in public institutions.

Operational Scope and Contract Acquisitions

Bosasa specialized in facilities management services for South African correctional institutions, primarily through contracts with the Department of Correctional Services (DCS). Core offerings included perimeter security fencing, electronic access control systems, installations, and nutritional catering services across multiple prisons. These services extended to inmate television provisioning and general upgrades aimed at enhancing facility security and operational functionality. Procurement history with DCS began in the early 2000s, with major tenders awarded starting in 2004 for multi-year service deliveries, including security enhancements at dozens of sites. By 2019, the portfolio comprised eight contracts valued at R7.1 billion, encompassing nutritional services for over 46,000 inmates at seven facilities and perimeter fencing for 47 to 60 correctional centers. Key security infrastructure projects, such as access controls and CCTV systems, were completed by 2015, with subsequent 12-month warranty maintenance periods. Contracts featured renewal mechanisms tied to service delivery evaluations, with extensions documented up to 2017 for ongoing operations through 2020. These agreements facilitated verifiable infrastructure outputs, including widespread CCTV deployments and fencing installations that supported perimeter security protocols across the national prison network.

Sports Involvement

Rugby Contributions and Sponsorships

Gavin Watson and his brothers participated in non-racial matches in black townships during the 1970s, defying apartheid-era bans on interracial sport and contributing to grassroots desegregation efforts years before the official unification of South African codes in 1992. This involvement included leaving the segregated Eastern Province to join non-racial organizations, an action that drew national attention and highlighted early resistance to racial barriers in the sport. Watson's brother, Daniel "Cheeky" Watson, served as president of the Eastern Province Union from 2013 to 2016, during which the organization sought to stabilize and promote professional in the post-apartheid era, including efforts to maintain the EP franchise amid financial and administrative challenges. While direct financial sponsorships from Watson's company to specific teams like the lack documented evidence in public records, the family's longstanding ties underscored informal support for and development initiatives following South Africa's return to international competition after the .

Ties to Anti-Apartheid Sports Initiatives

In the mid-1970s, Gavin Watson and his brothers defied South Africa's apartheid-era segregation laws by becoming the first white players to join a black rugby team in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape. This act of participation in interracial matches directly contravened prohibitions on mixed-race sports, which were enforced to maintain racial separation in all public activities, including athletics. The brothers faced repeated legal charges, physical attacks, and death threats for playing in black townships, yet persisted in these grassroots challenges to state control over segregated rugby governance under the whites-only South African Rugby Union (SARU). Gavin Watson personally contributed by playing matches in restricted areas such as Zwide township's during the , driving there despite bans on white entry to black-only zones under P.W. Botha's regime. Alongside brother , he provided logistical support by concealing black players in taxis to evade armored police checkpoints and hosting them at the family home in the whites-only Park Drive , actions that facilitated interracial team formations predating SARU's formal integration efforts in the early . These initiatives built early non-racial networks at the level, directly undermining apartheid's isolation policies and laying groundwork for unified talent development outside official channels.

Political Connections

Relationships with ANC Figures

Gavin Watson established ties with African National Congress (ANC) figures in the 1990s, providing logistical support and hosting party events as part of his business operations' alignment with post-apartheid empowerment initiatives. These interactions positioned Bosasa, under Watson's leadership, as a facilitator for ANC activities, including event organization that leveraged the company's facilities management expertise. ANC statements following his death in 2019 described him as an "unwavering" supporter in the democratic era, reflecting mutual recognition of his contributions to party logistics without public elaboration on reciprocal policy access. Watson maintained associations with senior ANC leaders such as Gwede Mantashe, whom Bosasa executives internally viewed as a strategic connection for operational insights, as testified in commission proceedings. Mantashe acknowledged interactions with Watson in Zondo Commission testimony on March 19, 2021, framing them within broader business engagements rather than personal favors. Similarly, Nomvula Mokonyane publicly affirmed a longstanding friendly relationship with Watson, eulogizing him as a "freedom fighter" at his August 30, 2019 memorial and emphasizing shared commitments to social justice platforms. These ties involved shared appearances at ANC-related gatherings, enabling Watson access to policy discussions while offering ANC figures private sector resources. During Jacob 's ascendancy in the ANC, Watson's support manifested through advocacy for party policies, as Zuma noted at Watson's September 3, 2019 funeral, crediting the Watson brothers as "champions" of ANC objectives and assets to the movement. Zuma highlighted Watson's role in sustaining ANC initiatives amid political transitions, underscoring transactional alignments where business acumen complemented political strategy. Public admissions from ANC representatives post-2019 affirmed these relationships as symbiotic, with the party gaining expertise in areas like facilities and , while Watson benefited from alignment with governing priorities.

Funding and Support for Political Entities

Gavin Watson, as chief executive of (later African Global Operations), oversaw financial donations to the (ANC) for election campaigns during the 2000s and 2010s. In preparation for the 2014 national elections, Bosasa transferred R3.6 million to the ANC through multiple installments, including six payments of R500,000 each on 31 March 2014, one of R150,000 on 9 April 2014, and an additional R500,000 later that month. Separate disclosures from company insiders indicated these contributions reached R6 million for the same electoral effort. In late 2017, Watson authorized a R500,000 donation from Bosasa to Ramaphosa's internal ANC presidential bid, known as the CR17 campaign. Bosasa extended non-monetary assistance to ANC activities, funding events and providing logistical support such as transport for rallies, as testified by former chief operating officer Angelo Agrizzi during public inquiries. Agrizzi further stated that 's overall aid to the ANC, encompassing cash and in-kind contributions over years, conservatively totaled R40 million. These efforts included covering costs for party gatherings requested via Watson's political contacts. Such corporate backing of political entities reflects patterns in post-apartheid , where firms aligned with the ruling party through disclosed donations to foster business relations amid state opportunities, paralleling influence-building mechanisms worldwide.

Controversies and Allegations

State Capture Claims and Zondo Commission

The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of , chaired by and spanning 2018 to 2022, scrutinized 's practices under Gavin Watson's leadership as emblematic of broader undue political and financial influence over state entities. The inquiry's third report, released in 2022, detailed 's systematic efforts to secure government contracts, particularly from 2007 onward, by cultivating relationships that compromised integrity in departments such as Correctional Services. Central to the findings were Bosasa's contracts with the Department of Correctional Services (DCS), totaling R7.1 billion by 2019, encompassing services like catering, perimeter fencing, IT infrastructure, and fleet maintenance across correctional facilities. The commission determined these awards reflected "" through manipulated tender processes, where Bosasa allegedly influenced specifications to favor its capabilities, sidelining genuine competition despite formal bidding frameworks. DCS for such services had commenced competitively in , yet the Zondo analysis highlighted deviations post-2007 that prioritized Bosasa's incumbency over alternative providers. Bosasa's engagements extended to the Department of Home Affairs, notably managing operations at the Lindela Repatriation Centre for undocumented migrants, though the commission emphasized DCS as the primary vector of influence, with aggregate irregular expenditures exceeding billions of across affected portfolios. The report underscored causal mechanisms of capture, including non-competitive renewals and overlooked red flags in oversight committees like , which had access to prior Special Investigating Unit (SIU) probes into Bosasa-DCS irregularities dating to 2009. Countervailing procurement data, including DCS records of initial competitive tenders won by on technical merits such as cost-efficiency and prior performance, suggested that not all awards deviated from standard criteria, as affirmed in departmental reviews and SIU forensic timelines. These elements prompted scrutiny of whether 's market dominance in facilities management—built on specialized expertise—partly explained successes independently of alleged undue , though the Zondo conclusions prioritized of systemic distortion over isolated .

Bribery Accusations and Testimonies

In January 2019, former chief operations officer Angelo Agrizzi testified before the that the company disbursed between R4 million and R6 million monthly in bribes to secure government contracts, including those with the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) for prison services such as catering, access control, and fencing. Agrizzi described the process involving cash extracted from a vault referred to as "Gavin’s safe," packed into bags by executives under the direction of CEO Gavin Watson, and hand-delivered to officials, with Agrizzi personally tracking the distributions. He alleged these payments, often totaling R65,000 to R110,000 monthly to specific DCS personnel like former national commissioner Linda Mti and chief financial officer Patrick Gillingham, enabled to obtain DCS contracts valued at approximately R1 billion from 2004 to 2016 amid irregularities in tender processes. Agrizzi further claimed that the scheme involved payments to around 80 individuals monthly across various entities, portraying it as a systemic mechanism to maintain influence and loyalty for contract awards, particularly in correctional facilities where held a dominant position. Watson, identified in the testimony as the central figure overseeing these operations, including open distributions of cash bags during company events, faced direct accusations of orchestrating the scheme but did not testify, having died in a car accident in August 2019. Subsequent to the testimonies, South African authorities charged several executives, including Agrizzi and Andries van Tonder, with , , and related to the DCS contracts, while Gillingham and Mti faced similar counts for accepting kickbacks. , which entered in 2018, saw its government contracts canceled in February 2019 following the revelations, though no specific fines were imposed on the entity post-liquidation; the charges against implicated parties remain unproven, with trials postponed as of 2024 due to procedural delays and health issues.

Defenses and Counterarguments

Watson's family, including his brother Valence Watson, rejected allegations of corruption leveled by former executive Angelo Agrizzi, dismissing his testimony as unreliable and motivated by self-preservation through a deal that shielded him from full prosecution. Agrizzi's credibility faced scrutiny due to his admitted racist conduct, captured in recordings where he used derogatory language, and his prior enrichment from operations before cooperating with authorities. Allegations against , including bribery for tenders, remained untested in following Watson's death in August 2019, which prevented and left claims without formal adjudication. The company's contracts, totaling billions of for services like and , were awarded through competitive processes in some instances, with reviews post-Zondo confirming operational delivery despite governance lapses. Broader critiques attribute corruption risks to the African National Congress's cadre deployment policy, which prioritized party loyalists in state roles and eroded oversight, fostering an environment where firms like could exploit weak institutional controls—a pattern echoed in the Zondo Commission's findings on systemic politicization rather than isolated corporate malfeasance. This framework, implemented since the ANC's governance, enabled without necessitating unique culpability from individual contractors engaging standard public-private partnerships.

Death

Circumstances of the Accident

Gavin Watson died on 26 August 2019, aged 71, in a single-vehicle collision near OR Tambo International Airport in . He was driving alone in a white , a company vehicle from , which veered off the R21 highway and struck a concrete bridge support. The crash occurred around 05:05 in the early morning, as Watson traveled toward the airport. Initial police examination of the wreckage showed the speedometer frozen at 140 km/h, indicating the vehicle was moving at high speed prior to impact. Eyewitness accounts reported the car failing to negotiate a curve before hitting the pillar. This incident took place one day before Watson was scheduled to testify at a South African Revenue Service (SARS) inquiry examining allegations of tax evasion and fraudulent claims involving , potentially amounting to millions of rands. and reports were later completed as part of the official probe, though detailed public findings on impairment were not released.

Investigations and Conspiracy Theories

The into Gavin Watson's death, opened as a case following the August 26, 2019, crash near OR Tambo International Airport, was formally closed on August 2, 2025, by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, with findings attributing the incident to driver error rather than foul play or mechanical failure. Watson's family initially expressed skepticism, appointing accident reconstruction expert Konrad Lotter on August 27, 2019, to conduct an independent assessment, citing preliminary concerns over the crash dynamics and inability to rule out external involvement; however, subsequent forensic evaluations, including those ruling out self-inflicted damage, aligned with the official determination of an accidental cause. Public speculation proliferated immediately after the , with theories positing to prevent Watson from testifying at the on , where 's alleged bribery schemes implicated him indirectly through whistleblower accounts, though he had not formally responded to invitations to appear. These claims drew on the 's timing—mere weeks after explosive testimony—and a perceived pattern of suspicious deaths among figures linked to probes, including reports from a private pathologist suggesting Watson may have been deceased prior to impact, potentially indicating or prior incapacitation. Despite such narratives, no supported foul play; investigations found no suspects, mechanical anomalies, or external interference, with media outlets like News24 explicitly debunking or faked-death hypotheses through analysis of available scene data and witness inconsistencies in eyewitness claims of . The absence of corroborative proof—such as forensic traces of tampering or motive-linked —contrasts with the verifiable crash reconstruction pointing to loss of control, underscoring how contextual scandals amplified unverified without causal linkage.

References

  1. [1]
    Gavin Watson | Profile - Africa Confidential
    Bosasa's CEO Gavin Watson shocked the country when he died in a car crash on 22 August which many believe to be suicide.Missing: biography facts
  2. [2]
    South African tycoon accused of bribery killed in car crash
    Aug 27, 2019 · Gavin Watson was at the centre of claims of systematic graft involving leading ANC figures. ... corruption ombudsman, Busisiwe Mkhwebane. Watson's ...
  3. [3]
    'State capture': the corruption investigation that has shaken South ...
    Jul 11, 2019 · ... corrupt practices of Watson's logistics company, Bosasa. The video is the most dramatic evidence yet of corruption within the ruling African ...
  4. [4]
    'Bosasa simply had no shame' – Watson brothers' company ...
    Mar 2, 2022 · Bosasa's success also owed much to the networking aptitude of the Watson brothers, marshalled by Gavin, who died in a still mysterious car crash ...
  5. [5]
    Bosasa - Accountability Tracker
    Tipped off about an SIU raid, Watson and associates destroyed evidence of corruption at Bosasa. Watson also negotiated his way out of being interviewed by the ...
  6. [6]
    Sex, racism and bullying: Inside Gavin Watson's world of corruption ...
    Oct 20, 2019 · Gavin Watson, the former CEO of corruption-tainted facilities management company Bosasa, led a life far removed from that of a devout Christian and struggle ...
  7. [7]
    Gavin Watson: Thorough and transparent investigation needed to ...
    Aug 26, 2019 · ... corrupt relationship BOSASA has with the ANC and Ramaphosa, indicate that Gavin Watson had a lot to say before the Zondo Commission of Inquiry.
  8. [8]
    5 key facts about Gavin Watson | News24
    Aug 26, 2019 · Bosasa executive Gavin Watson was killed in a "horrific" car accident in the early hours of Monday morning close to OR Tambo International ...<|separator|>
  9. [9]
    [PDF] Gavin Watson: Pathologist concludes he was dead before fatal crash
    Sep 16, 2019 · ... Gavin Watson, lost his life in a car accident last month. His death fuelled conspiracy theories and even rumours of suicide. However, over ...
  10. [10]
    Gavin Watson: pious on the outside, but ruthless on the inside
    Sep 1, 2019 · With a Bible in one hand and bags of cash in the other, Gavin Watson ... Watson was born in the Eastern Cape on July 12 1948, the eldest of four ...
  11. [11]
    ANC mourns Gavin Watson, calling him a 'brave, anti-apartheid ...
    Aug 26, 2019 · Watson and his brothers, he added, were well-known within the United Democratic Front (UDF) as well as the ANC underground during apartheid.Missing: born Durban 1948
  12. [12]
    Meet the Watsons: Brothers in struggle often in headlines - Sowetan
    Jan 22, 2019 · The brothers claimed they were being targeted for their anti-apartheid stances‚ with Valence telling the Sunday Times in August 1987: "The ...
  13. [13]
    S. Africans Apply Christianity : 4 White Brothers Spark Anti-Apartheid ...
    Oct 6, 1985 · Ron Watson unhesitatingly identifies himself and his brothers with the outlawed African National Congress, something few whites or blacks ...
  14. [14]
    https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/2019-09-03-gavin-watson-was-vilified-for-anti-apartheid-stance-mourners-told/
  15. [15]
    Gavin Watson and family 'gave white people credibility and ...
    May 6, 2021 · Watson, along with his brother Cheeky, played rugby in black townships in the 1970s, against apartheid laws that legalised segregated sport.Missing: defiance | Show results with:defiance
  16. [16]
    Gavin Watson and family gave white people credibility and legitimacy
    May 7, 2021 · Watson, along with his brother Cheeky, played rugby in black townships in the 1970s, against apartheid laws that legalised segregated sport.Missing: defiance | Show results with:defiance
  17. [17]
    Ruggers' Defiance Brings Trade to South African Store
    Sep 14, 1985 · The exemption is in recognition of an antiapartheid gesture they made nine years ago. The Watson brothers, all enthusiastic rugby players, quit ...
  18. [18]
    Gavin Watson an ANC man for years - Sowetan
    Aug 27, 2019 · The Watson family rose to fame in the Eastern Cape during the apartheid -era when Daniel "Cheeky" Watson, a formidable rugby player, created a ...Missing: townships 1970s defiance
  19. [19]
    Meet the Watsons: Brothers in struggle often in headlines - The Herald
    Jan 22, 2019 · The roots of brothers Gavin‚ Ronnie‚ Cheeky and Valence lie on a farm near Somerset East in the Eastern Cape. Their father was said to have been ...
  20. [20]
    Meet the Watsons: Brothers in struggle often in headlines
    Jan 20, 2019 · The roots of brothers Gavin, Ronnie, Cheeky and Valence lie on a farm near Somerset East in the Eastern Cape ...
  21. [21]
    Bosasa CEO Gavin and his brothers – who are the Watsons?
    Jan 21, 2019 · ... anti-apartheid activist whose born-again Christian values saw him and his brother, Valence, break segregation laws by playing rugby in the ...
  22. [22]
    Bosasa mystery deepens. Valence Watson: “My (now late) brother ...
    Aug 26, 2019 · I am the third eldest, Gavin is the eldest, Ron is the second eldest and Cheeky is the fourth in the family and we were all rugby players and ...
  23. [23]
    The Bosasa Billions: The Watsons and the arson charges
    Aug 19, 2019 · In January 1987 Valence, Ronnie and Cheeky Watson went on trial for arson, fraud and attempted murder (of two employees who had been severely burnt)
  24. [24]
    ANC caught in Bosasa crime web - Daily Maverick
    Mar 6, 2022 · In the late 1990s, Bosasa, known at the time as Dyambu Holdings, was a fledgling logistics group that hardly got media headlines because its ...
  25. [25]
    Gavin Watson - Wikipedia
    Gavin Joseph Watson (12 July 1948 – 26 August 2019) was a South African businessman who served as Chief Executive Officer of African Global Operations
  26. [26]
    The minister, the gifts, the Watsons and the wind farm - Polity.org.za
    Mar 13, 2019 · In August 2000, Watson bought out Dyambu Holdings' share – represented by Hilda Ndude – for R5.5-million, and the company was renamed Bosasa ...<|separator|>
  27. [27]
    Gavin Watson Facts for Kids
    Jun 9, 2025 · Gavin Joseph Watson (born 12 July 1948 – died 26 August 2019) was a South African businessman. He was the Chief Executive Officer of a company ...Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
  28. [28]
    the case of Bosasa and the prisons How State Capture led to human ...
    Mar 14, 2022 · The logistics company Bosasa won numerous contracts to supply services to South African prisons under the management of the Department of Correctional Services ...
  29. [29]
    Inside the Belly of the Beast: The REAL Bosasa Story by Angelo ...
    Dec 1, 2021 · This is a record of two decades of mindblowing greed, fraud, bribery, elaborate money laundering schemes and corruption at the highest levels of government.
  30. [30]
    Bosasa contracts with Correctional Services, with Minister & Deputy
    Feb 27, 2019 · Correctional Services contracts with Bosasa had totalled an astounding R7.1 billion. The Minister of Justice and Correctional Services said he would focus on ...Missing: growth Gavin hygiene
  31. [31]
    ANC accepted Bosasa millions for years - Polity.org.za
    Feb 19, 2019 · Data from National Treasury shows that between 2004 and 2019, Bosasa netted an estimated R12-billion from numerous state departments. This ...Missing: revenues | Show results with:revenues
  32. [32]
    [PDF] A nnual R eport 2 012 /2 013 - Correctional Services
    Security Operations. Performance Indicators: 1. Functional electronic inmate tracking system to monitor movement of offenders within correctional centres.
  33. [33]
    Bosasa for sale: The end of an alleged corrupt era as 'auction of the ...
    Dec 3, 2019 · Bosasa, renamed African Global Operations in 2017, and its subsidiary companies were placed under voluntary liquidation in February 2019 ...
  34. [34]
    From China to Krugersdorp: Andile Ramaphosa and the Bosasa ...
    Mar 27, 2019 · ... Bosasa in April of the same year, the company underwent a major makeover, changing its name to African Global Operations. ADVERTISEMENT. Its ...
  35. [35]
    Hansard | NA: Unrevised Hansard (EPC) | PMG
    Jul 17, 2019 · Investigations being conducted by the Special Investigations Unit, relating to the Electronic Monitoring System, the Integrated Inmate ...
  36. [36]
    [PDF] ANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
    Jul 15, 2019 · The investigations relate to procurement of the. Electronic Monitoring System (EMS), the Integrated Inmate. Management System (IIMS), Project ...
  37. [37]
    Bosasa Inc: More songs about bribes, cooked tenders and major ...
    Jan 22, 2019 · Those include a catering contract, one for access control, another for CCTV systems and TV sets for inmates as well as fencing at between 47 and ...
  38. [38]
    [PDF] The Tenuous Link between Crime and Incarceration: Bosasa's ...
    Abstract. Bosasa's role in facilitating the fact that South Africa has one of the highest crime rates as well as one of the highest rates of recidivism in ...<|separator|>
  39. [39]
    Correctional Services assures Parliament of uninterrupted services ...
    Feb 27, 2019 · The committee heard that the DCS had eight contracts with Bosasa with multiple extensions amounting to R7.1 billion. It includes contracts on ...Missing: details | Show results with:details
  40. [40]
    South Africa cancels Bosasa prison contracts after bribe accusations
    Feb 25, 2019 · Bosasa had been served with a 30-day notice to cancel contracts for nutritional services at seven facilities where it fed more than 46,000 ...
  41. [41]
    Minister Michael Masutha: Media briefing on Bosasa contracts
    Feb 25, 2019 · The installation of security infrastructure under this contract was concluded in 2015, followed by a warranty period of 12 months during which ...
  42. [42]
    Gavin Watson remembered - South Africa - SABC News
    Aug 26, 2019 · Watson and his three brothers made headlines in the 70s when they left the white Eastern Province Rugby Union and joined the non-racial ...
  43. [43]
    Rugby brothers carried message Playing with blacks nearly cost ...
    Jul 10, 1991 · The Watson brothers, who ran a chain of clothing stores, were labeled communists by South Africa's white authorities although they were known to ...
  44. [44]
    'Honorary white Xhosa' Gavin Watson remembered | The Citizen
    Aug 27, 2019 · In the Eastern Cape, Gavin Watson was an honorary white Xhosa. At the height of apartheid, Zwide – a dusty township in Port Elizabeth – became ...Missing: 1970s | Show results with:1970s
  45. [45]
    ANC pays tribute to Gavin Watson after fatal car crash - Sowetan
    Aug 26, 2019 · “In the democratic era, Cde Gavin continued his activism and was unwavering in his support for the ANC,” it said. “His charity work in support ...
  46. [46]
    Zondo probe exceeded terms of reference over Mantashe, court told
    Jun 9, 2025 · Agrizzi told the commission former Bosasa head Gavin Watson described Mantashe as a “brilliant connection”. Terms of reference. Mantashe's ...
  47. [47]
    This is what Gwede Mantashe said about Bosasa and Gavin Watson ...
    Mar 19, 2021 · Minister Gwede Mantashe told the Zondo Commission on Friday night that former Bosasa CEO Gavin Watson bribed shop stewards in hostels for catering contracts.
  48. [48]
    I will tell you what Agrizzi has done - Mokonyane's threat at Gavin ...
    Aug 30, 2019 · Mokonyane said that those associated with Bosasa and Watson were persecuted because they believed in a just and fair society. "They never loved ...Missing: association | Show results with:association
  49. [49]
    Eastern Cape ANC to attend funeral of 'revolutionary' Gavin Watson
    Sep 1, 2019 · Mokonyane was named by Bosasa whistle-blower Angelo Agrizzi as a conduit for money and gifts channelled to the ANC – including payments for ...Missing: association | Show results with:association
  50. [50]
    Zuma - I Hope Comrade Gavin Watson Was Not 'Cleverly Removed'
    Sep 3, 2019 · Narrating Watson's role in the struggle, Zuma said the Watson brothers became the champions of the ANC's policies. "They became a big asset of ...
  51. [51]
    Zuma hints at Watson being 'targeted', says 'lots of gaps' in death ...
    Sep 3, 2019 · The enemy has targeted ANC supporters and comrades before. Many have died recently. I hope Comrade Gavin is not one of those,” he said. Zuma ...
  52. [52]
    Bosasa liquidators want ANC to repay R3.6m the company donated ...
    Jul 12, 2021 · Six payments of R500 000 each, totalling R3 million, were made on 31 March 2014. · One payment of R150 000 was made on 9 April 2014. · One payment ...Missing: verifiable | Show results with:verifiable
  53. [53]
    South Africa: ANC Accepted Bosasa Millions for Years - allAfrica.com
    Feb 19, 2019 · According to the same source, Bosasa donated R6m towards the ANC's 2014 national election campaign. The Mkhize meeting at Luthuli House took ...
  54. [54]
    Bosasa CEO's 'hidden' R500K donation to Ramaphosa deconstructed
    Nov 23, 2018 · Bosasa CEO Gavin Watson's R500 000 "donation" to President Cyril Ramaphosa's African National Congress (ANC) presidential campaign in October ...Missing: verifiable amounts
  55. [55]
    ANC accepted Bosasa millions for years | News24
    Feb 19, 2019 · A source with intimate knowledge of Bosasa's affairs told News24 that the company had donated a conservatively estimated R40m to the ANC over ...
  56. [56]
    Bosasa donated millions of rands to the ANC: Agrizzi - YouTube
    Mar 29, 2019 · Standing by his testimony, former Bosasa COO Angelo Agrizzi says Bosasa donated millions of rands to the governing party.Missing: vehicles events
  57. [57]
    [PDF] BOSASA - SAFLII
    she did not request Bosasa to pay for her son's funeral and that "if Gavin Watson ... over a political party. 2371 That situation is "in a different ...
  58. [58]
    Part III: Vol. 4Inquiry into State Capture
    on Correctional Services or SCOPA had already been given the SIU Report on corruption involving BOSASA and the Department of Correctional Services and.
  59. [59]
    Bosasa Files – Gavin Watson's defence: Timeline and documentary ...
    Sep 23, 2019 · The timeline of events at Bosasa compiled for the late Gavin Watson by his nephew, forensic accountant Jared Watson.Missing: maintenance | Show results with:maintenance
  60. [60]
    Bosasa lavish with bribes, former COO tells Zondo - Corruption Watch
    Jan 16, 2019 · Watson would openly give bags of money to different officials at Bosasa to facilitate bribes to those public officials with whom they associated ...Missing: founded maintenance
  61. [61]
    Bosasa spent between R4m and R6m a month on bribes – Agrizzi
    Jan 17, 2019 · He said the "bribe money" was kept in Watson's safe. Agrizzi said it was his duty to keep track of cash that was taken out of the safe. He used ...
  62. [62]
    Agrizzi shows inquiry a video of Bosasa bosses counting money for ...
    Jan 17, 2019 · He said Bosasa, now trading as African Global Operations, spent between R4-million and R6-million per month to bribe officials to score ...
  63. [63]
    Charge Zuma, Mokonyane and Mantashe for Bosasa graft, State ...
    Mar 2, 2022 · Agrizzi estimated that Bosasa was paying monthly kickbacks to at least 80 people. “The evidence revealed that corruption was Bosasa's way of ...
  64. [64]
    Bribes, inducement and renovations: How Bosasa captured the state
    Mar 2, 2022 · The third part of the state capture report deals exclusively with the catering and security firm owned by the late Gavin Watson.Missing: maintenance | Show results with:maintenance
  65. [65]
    Bosasa boss, state capture mastermind: Just who was Gavin Watson?
    Aug 26, 2019 · He could speak fluent isiXhosa, caught the eye of the apartheid state police as he played rugby in the township with his brothers, and set up ...
  66. [66]
    Lies, damn lies and the Zondo Commission: A serial outbreak of ...
    Jun 3, 2021 · For example, Valence Watson, a brother to the late Gavin Watson, rubbished Angelo Agrizzi's testimony at the commission and called him a ...
  67. [67]
    ‘I am a racist, judge me on that’ — Agrizzi
    Jan 29, 2019 · Former Bosasa chief operating officer Angelo Agrizzi was called to answer for a racist tirade clandestinely recorded by members of the controversial Watson ...
  68. [68]
    Whistleblower Angelo Agrizzi talks about the Bosasa 'cult' and why ...
    Dec 6, 2021 · Angelo feels there's no support for whistleblowers in SA. His critics stress that he benefited from the corruption at Bosasa and only chose to speak out to ...
  69. [69]
    Justice denied: The death of Gavin Watson helps some, hinders others
    Aug 29, 2019 · The untimely death of Bosasa chief executive Gavin Watson will have a ripple effect on the investigations of corruption related to him and his company for many ...Missing: defenses | Show results with:defenses
  70. [70]
    [PDF] The Zondo Commission: A bite-sized summary
    The Commission concentrated on irregular public appointments (appointments that did not follow official process), improper conduct by the national executive and.Missing: forensic | Show results with:forensic
  71. [71]
    https://pmg.org.za/files/Dr-Leon-Schreiber.pdf
  72. [72]
    [PDF] Cadre deployment is racketeering and the ANC is a criminal syndicate
    The evidence revealed that BOSASA made donations to the ANC in cash and in kind. ... for the ANC's cadre deployment corruption. That reckoning will hopefully ...
  73. [73]
    Gavin Watson's death: 5 holes in the investigation | News24
    Sep 22, 2019 · Watson crashed his Bosasa company car, a Toyota Corolla, into a concrete pillar approaching OR Tambo International Airport on the R21 on August ...
  74. [74]
    Gavin Watson: Speedometer in car's wreck froze at 140km/h
    Aug 28, 2019 · The police investigation into the death of Bosasa boss Gavin Watson is centred on the whereabouts of his cellphone and the speedometer of ...
  75. [75]
    Gavin Watson was 'already dead' at time of crash - report - News24
    Sep 16, 2019 · ... Toyota Corolla. The accident occurred at about 05:05 on the ... toxicology data. - Compiled by Riaan Grobler. ADVERTISEMENT. You have ...
  76. [76]
    Gavin Watson's death: Family awaits police report to unlock puzzle
    Oct 13, 2019 · Almost two months after Gavin Watson's death in a suspicious car crash near OR Tambo, another report has cast doubt on eyewitnesses version ...
  77. [77]
    Sars tight-lipped over inquiry into Bosasa tax-dodging claims after ...
    Aug 27, 2019 · Former African Global Operations (formerly Bosasa) chief executive Gavin Watson was scheduled to testify on the first day of the Sars tax
  78. [78]
    Gavin Watson was due to testify at SARS inquiry - Sowetan
    Aug 27, 2019 · The crash happened the day before the 73-year-old was due to face tough questions about his company's tax affairs at a Sars inquiry. Watson was ...
  79. [79]
    Police minister Mchunu announces closure of inquests into Gavin ...
    Aug 2, 2025 · Mchunu said the investigation into Watson's culpable homicide case was completed after autopsy and toxicology reports were received, following a ...<|separator|>
  80. [80]
    Question to the Minister of Police - NW2475 | PMG
    Jul 11, 2025 · (a) A case of culpable homicide was opened regarding the death of Mr Gavin Joseph Watson, on 26 August 2019, at or near the OR Tambo ...
  81. [81]
    Watson family calls for independent probe after Bosasa CEO's death
    Aug 27, 2019 · Gavin Watson was scheduled to appear at the Sars inquiry on Tuesday and was facing a potential multimillion-rand claim.
  82. [82]
    Family can't rule out foul play in Bosasa boss Gavin Watson's fatal ...
    Aug 27, 2019 · The Watson family has appointed forensic engineer and accident reconstruction expert Konrad Lotter to probe the crash, according to the SABC.
  83. [83]
    Gavin Watson takes many secrets with him to the grave
    Aug 28, 2019 · The ANC has heaped praise on Bosasa CEO Gavin Watson, describing him as an anti-apartheid activist and philanthropist who fought in the struggle ...
  84. [84]
    EDITORIAL: Gavin Watson – the dots not to connect - Financial Mail
    Aug 29, 2019 · ... Gavin Watson's death in a car crash this week was a rash of conspiracy theories. By contrast, when mining boss Brett Kebble was shot at the ...
  85. [85]
    These are the main conspiracy theories about Gavin Watson's death
    Aug 27, 2019 · News24 investigative journalists Kyle Cowan and Mandy Wiener talk through, and debunk, some of the conspiracy theories about the death of ...<|separator|>
  86. [86]
    EDITORIAL: Confused, we turn to conspiracy - The Mail & Guardian
    Aug 30, 2019 · Gavin Watson, a former anti-apartheid activist and chief executive of African Global Holdings, formerly Bosasa, died in a car crash on Monday.