The Zondo Commission has highlighted a connection between implicated lawyer Brian Bierbuyck, the Watson family and Jake White.
As recounted in Business Day, White was approached by his lawyer in 2007 on behalf of the Watson family, led by Cheeky and his son Luke.
The Watsons were politically connected, and as alleged in White’s autobiography, sought to put pressure on him to pick Luke and take him to the World Cup that year.
White’s lawyer apparently told him that if he agreed to such demands that he would then remain involved in South African rugby. If not, it was alleged that he would not coach the team to the World Cup.
Ultimately, any deal fell through, with the Watsons reportedly getting ‘cold feet’.
According to Business Day, White’s lawyer was Brian Bierbuyck, the same lawyer of the Bosasa group of companies implicated by Angelo Agrizzi at the Zondo Commission into state capture.
Bierbuyck was also accused by Agrizzi of offering him a R50-million bribe for his silence on the company’s alleged corruption.
Cheeky Watson would later deny ever knowing Bierbuyck.
