NATIONAL NEWS - The controversial CEO of facilities management company Bosasa, Gavin Watson, died in a car accident on his way out of OR Tambo Airport early on Monday morning at 5.30am.

He was alone and was the only fatality.

According to reports, the 71-year-old (other reports suggest he was 73) may have lost control of his vehicle and driven into a highway overpass’ concrete pillar. Watson had earlier flown up from his home in Port Elizabeth and had spent the weekend in Gauteng.

The police are investigating a case of culpable homicide, with some theories on social media suggesting Watson’s car may have been tampered with. However, this is a long way from being proven despite the fact that he had numerous enemies.

Bosasa and Watson family spokesperson Papa Leshabane confirmed to eNCA that Watson had apparently lost control of the vehicle, and no other vehicle was involved.

He said they were not willing to speculate on the incident being anything other than an accident.

Watson’s “normal car” had apparently been sent in for repairs, and the Toyota Corolla was how he had been getting around over the weekend. News24 reports that his regular car was a BMW X5, which presumably has stronger safety features. It was reportedly left at Bosasa’s company headquarters in Krugersdorp.

Apparently he also didn’t know how to drive a car with a manual gearbox, such as the Corolla’s, as he normally only drove automatics.

Some family members had already confirmed Watson’s identity at the mortuary.

Leshabane asked for privacy for the family and his colleagues and said he wouldn’t be granting any further interviews for the moment.

Source: Caxton publication, The Citizen.