The 74-year-old veteran ‘Carte Blanche’ TV presenter, whose name became synonymous with South African investigative journalism, died on Tuesday, after a battle with cancer.
FILE: Watts first graced TV screens in 1985 as a Top Sport anchor and later took up his iconic role as Carte Blanche news hound. Picture: Twitter/@DerekWatts
CAPE TOWN – Derek Watts was remembered as a gentle giant and kind-hearted soul, whose name was synonymous with investigative journalism in South Africa.
The veteran Carte Blanche TV presenter died on Tuesday at 74 years old, after battling cancer.
In June, Watts announced he would retire from the investigative news show after 35 years of service.
A hard-nosed investigative journalist, Derek Watts was a formidable news broadcaster.
He first graced TV screens in 1985 as a Top Sport anchor and later took up his iconic role as Carte Blanche news hound.
“I just got out of my maroon jacket [from] Top Sport. I’m so excited to get Carte Blanche off the ground, although it was more of a magazine show: we had Hollywood stars, we had a DJ and even an Olympic swimmer.”
Over the years, Watts became the face of investigative journalism in South Africa.
He started his journalism career as a writer for The Rhodesia Herald in Zimbabwe, but this is how he’ll be remembered by many South Africans:
“Thank you for all the love, the messages, the prayers that give us all hope and thanks, of course, for continuing to watch Carte Blanche. Have a magic week, and cheers, for now.”
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