JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JANUARY 16: Former Bosasa Chief Operations Officer (COO) Angelo Agrizzi testifies at the Raymond Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture on January 16, 2019 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Agrizzi revealed that Bosasa spent R4m-R6m in a cash a month on bribing officials and politicians for contracts and tenders – Photo: Gallo Images / Sowetan / Alaister Russell
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JANUARY 16: Former Bosasa Chief Operations Officer (COO) Angelo Agrizzi testifies at the Raymond Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture on January 16, 2019 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Agrizzi revealed that Bosasa spent R4m-R6m in a cash a month on bribing officials and politicians for contracts and tenders – Photo: Gallo Images / Sowetan / Alaister Russell
The star witness at the State Capture Inquiry has broken his slience on the death of Gavin Watson. The Bosasa CEO – who worked in close quarters with Angelo Agrizzi for more than two decades – was killed in a car accident on Monday. But the story has been plagued by bizarre rumours and a heap of intrigue.
Some reports have claimed that Watson was due to face a major tax inquiry on Tuesday – with potential information on Jacob Zuma and Cyril Ramaphosa being disclosed as part of the process. Bosasa have made some illicit payments to both presidential figures, and their corruption empire was worth billions of rand.
Updates on the Gavin Watson car crash
Gavin Watson has also been accused of being part of a wider financial conspiracy, and Mbuyiseni Ndlozi of the EFF has suggested it was a hit organised by Cyril Ramaphosa. We can’t wait to see how that lawsuit plays out. But another caveat to the former executive’s death centres around his motivations.
The horrific crash happened at 5:00 on Monday morning. With traffic at a minimum and the impact being so severe, it’s understandable that Gavin Watson had built up some speed before he met his fateful end. Angelo Agrizzi told Power 987 that the ex-CEO was trying to avoid any accountability for his role in the corruption:
“If you consider the charges that would come against him, it would be very plausible [that he is fleeing]. My heart goes out to the family. What he did was wrong and he’s probably having to answer for it right now.”
“He’s never rebutted the truth of what I’ve said about him at the State Capture Inquiry. He was given the opportunity, but he never did. I’ve heard stories that he was trying to flee the country. It is very plausible.”
Angelo Agrizzi
Bosasa: Angelo Agrizzi testimony
Most of what Agrizzi has had to say in 2019 has caused seismic waves across South Africa. Several implicated Bosasa officials are facing a criminal trial – Angelo included. Furthermore, Agrizzi was forced to hand over “more than R200 000” to the SA Human Rights Commission for his use of racist language.
The blockbuster testimony ended up putting a few of his colleagues in the dock, and the net was closing in on Gavin Watson. But just hours before he was set for a severe grilling from SARS, the businessman perished. And some secrets are set to follow the 71-year-old to the grave.
