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Today Carte Blanche honours the ‘grillmaster’ himself, Derek Watts, who died at 74 after a battle with lung cancer this month.

Family, friends, and colleagues of the esteemed investigative journalist gathered this morning at a private memorial service to remember the great man. Starting at 11:30 AM, the event has been live streamed so that Watts’ extended ‘family’ of South Africa can also pay our respects.

Those who spoke at the memorial service included Watts’ wife Belinda, his siblings Roy Watts and Gaynor Schiff, industry peers Bongani Bingwa and Devi Sankaree Govender and close friends Gavin Verejes and Paul Kelley.

The Watts family expressed their deep love for Watts, who fought valiantly until the very end.

“Our beloved father and husband filled our lives with a light that can never be extinguished. His presence was a constant source of strength, kindness, and unwavering support.”

The live-streamed memorial service forms part of a wave of tributes for Watts that began over the weekend.

Carte Blanche, SA’s acclaimed investigative journalism show where he had long served, dedicated an hour-long episode to his memory. If you missed the episode, you can still catch the livestream below.

Fair warning: tissues required. If you’re anything like me, the outpouring of love for Watts and his legacy should have you blubbering like a baby within five minutes.

After hearing the beautiful words from friends and family, it’s safe to say that it truly was Watts’ kindness and empathy that set him apart.

In an emotional moment, Watts’ brother even likened the late journalist to an ‘albatross’ due to having a ‘wing span’ that embraced everyone who had the opportunity to know him. Like I said, tissues are a must.

The Watts family has held onto hope during this difficult time by way of the enduring legacy Watts leaves behind.

“In this time of sorrow, we find solace in knowing that Derek’s legacy lives on within each of us. We pledge to carry forward his values of kindness, generosity, and patience, using them as a compass to navigate our lives.”

Watts’ dedication to truth-seeking journalism and his indomitable spirit will continue to inspire and guide all those who had the privilege of knowing the man and his work.

[source:news24]