Dean Watson, a well-known figure in the club rugby industry, tragically lost his life when he was on his way to respond to a burglary alert at the Goodwood Rugby Club on 18 August.
On his way, Watson’s bakkie collided with another vehicle, and he died on impact.
According to Eitner Truter, Chair at Goodwood Rugby Club, Watson had been involved on an ad-hoc basis with Goodwood Rugby Club for the past five to ten years, but also spent a lot of time at Kraaifontein Rugby Club where he managed their bar facility with enormous success. He was permanently involved at Goodwood Rugby Club for the past two months as operations manager.
The club is devastated by the loss and even though he only permanently looked after the operations of the bar at Goodwood Rugby Club for the past two months, he used to pop in and say hello regularly before this, Truter said.
According to Truter, Watson was well known within the club rugby scene and a great friend to all, especially the members of Kraaifontein and Goodwood Rugby Club. “We were hugely excited about his return to Goodwood Rugby Club as he was a highly valued individual who gave his heart and soul to any establishment where he was involved.”
In agreement with Truter, Vincent Lavanga, vice-chair at Goodwood Rugby Club, said Watson was a loving and caring father. The well-being of others was always put first before his own. His kids and grandkids were everything to him.
If he could help others, he would be happy. This was his motto throughout life. He was married to Christa since 2017. He has a son Morne and a daughter Monique.
“On the morning of the incident, I received a call at 03:40 from the night manager at Goodwood Rugby Club about a burglary that occurred a couple of hours earlier. She was concerned as she could not get hold of the operations manager, Dean Watson, and reports were that he had been involved in an accident while on his way to the Rugby Club in response to the alarm activation,” Truter said.
Jumped the red light
Allegedly, another driver jumped the red light on the corner of Hugo and Milton Roads, Vasco, and collided with Dean which killed him on impact, Truter said.
“I arrived at the scene just before 04:00 finding Dean’s body next to his vehicle on the median,” Truter continued.
According to Lavanga, on arrival at the burglary scene, they saw that the front sliding door and safety gate had been forced open. After scanning the scene, they saw the pool table was forced open and all the coins were removed. Some sound equipment was stolen as well as some booze and cigarettes.
One suspect detained
One of the suspects was detained by the armed response from Byers Security Solutions but he denied any involvement with the burglary.
According to Capt Wayne Theunis of the Goodwood police, they arrested a 41-year-old man for business breaking.
On Thursday 18 August at about 04:00 Johan Carstens of Byers Security responded to an alarm at the Goodwood Rugby Club. On his arrival at the scene he saw a suspect running away. Carstens knew that there was only one escape route and he drove to Spencer Street where he waited for the suspect to jump over the fence.
When the suspect jumped over Carstens apprehended him and took him back to the scene. There he found the steel gate and sliding door damaged. Inside he found a pool table had been broken.
An unknown amount of cash was taken from the pool table.
The suspect who is known in Goodwood was handed to Goodwood police and appeared in the Goodwood Magistrates‘ Court on a charge of business breaking.
At this stage no definite funeral arrangements have been confirmed.
